2012
As this year gets underway focus is turning to the Paralympic Games in London and with qualification closing at the end of February there is little time left to stake a place. We wish Zoe all the best as she attempts to do this and secure an automatic invitation to the biggest competition of them all.
11th April
GB Squad announced for London 2012
Paralympics GB have today announced the squad that will be representing Great Britain in the Powerlifting and we are pleased to at last be able to tell everyone that a founding member of Suffolk Spartans Zoe Newson has qualified for a place at London 2012. Not only has she managed this but currently she is ranked 4th in the World in her weight class, the highest ranking of any of the GB Powerlifters announced today. Zoe was thrilled and has today been in London to be a part of the announcement before she returns home and starts the serious business of training for this the biggest of tests. We wish her all the best for the competition and will be helping her prepare as well as taking as many of the club to the Excel Arena on 30th August to support her.
24th March
Up against it
Ben was up against stiff competition today as there were 4 others in the group of under 18 years and under 66kg bodyweight but not only this those competing against Ben were all lifting with equipment while Ben had chosen to lift without any which puts him at a disadvantage. Despite this and the fact that Ben didn’t have a good day by his now high standards he managed to place 2nd in the competition. He finished on a squat of 145kg a bench press of 100kg and a deadlift of 177.5kg giving him a final total of 422.5kg which matched his performance at the Commonwealth Championships. Ben said he was disappointed not to have performed well as he knew that he was capable of much more but he has learnt from the experience and won’t make the same mistakes again in the future. The fact that Ben was now disappointed with a total that was a personal best just 3 months ago shows how quickly he is progressing and the high standards he sets for himself.
12th March
The honours keep coming
Today Ben was awarded a sports personality by the mayor. This follows the Young Sports Personality award he was given from Suffolk Coastal at the end of last year and is a tribute to how well he has performed particularly at the Commonwealth Championships where he picked up 5 gold medals in December.
22nd February
Disappointing Dubai
Zoe took to the stage in the 4th Fazza Powerlifting Championships in Dubai today. Being the last chance to affect qualification for London 2012 this was an important competition for all those attending. Zoe was unlucky not to get her first lift of 86kg which was just there to settle the nerves. After this Zoe increased her lift to 89kg as this would push her further away from those chasing. On the day this proved to be too much for her.
Zoe performed extremely well in Cardiff last month and this was where she staked her claim to go to 2012 and this competition was about protecting that place. Based on the results and rankings we have seen so far Zoe has 6th place in the world and if this remains the case she will receive a personal invitation to compete the London 2012 Paralympic games from IPC Powerlifting.
21st January
A good start to the year
Outstanding results today were seen at the IPC Powerlifting Championships in Cardiff. Matt competing in only his second ever competition finished the day with 71kg an improvement of 6kg in just 6 months. Credit must go to the hard work he has put in over this time to make such an increase and as he now looks to prepare for the British in June we will be hoping for a similar improvement.
Also lifting from Suffolk Spartans was Zoe who recently was pushed down to 7th in the world rankings she responded well opening on 86kg a personal best she increased this to 88kg during the competition which should now secure her 5th place in the world rankings. As we now enter the final month of qualification for London 2012 this position will hopefully see Zoe at the games although she will be travelling to Dubai at the end of February to see if she can improve on this lift and guarantee her place at London. Both lifts increased the European Junior Record which Zoe already held and her opening lift was enough to give her the honour of now being the best British Woman currently competing.