Local lifters pull their weight to inspire others

Saturday 22 June 2019

Islanders with a knack for weightlifting have banded together to create a club in a bid to inspire more to take up the discipline.

The Jersey Weightlifting Club is holding an open day today in its hideout at Fort Regent - the Jersey Sport Foundation facilities.

It was launched by a group of islanders passionate about the discipline – including Amy Moore, one of the superwomen training as part of the Power2Podium programme, and Linda Neale, mum to Charlotte, a weightlifting prodigy aged only 14 and Amy’s teammate – in a bid to develop the sport within the island. 

Pictured: At only 14, Charlotte Neale is one of the rising stars of weightlifting in the island.

The Club also has the backing the Jersey Sport Foundation, which launched the P2P programme in April 2018 to prove that Jersey can produce athletes able to compete at high level with a good coaching environment and the right system behind the athletes.

“Weightlifting is an incredible sport,” Amy told Express. “With the club, we aim to help people locally. It’s for everyone, youngsters who have never tried it, older people with some experience or seniors.”  

Amy was not a complete novice when she joined P2P - through her experience as a Crossfit coach and personal trainer, she had already tried out weightlifting. Since joining the program, she has been completely focused on the discipline.

Pictured: Amy says weightlifting is an incredible sport.

“It has taken over my life,” she confessed, as she explained the benefits the sport has to offer. “It’s a very independent sport, but it’s also very social,” she said. “You get a real sense of achievement from little improvements. It is frustrating but incredibly rewarding!

“I’m a bit biased but the flexibility, mobility and strength are the best out of any sport.”

The club has already received interest from around 20 local weightlifters as well as a selection of coaches, who are “all keen to get involved to help people learn and develop,” Amy said. 

Pictured: The Club will use the Jersey Sport Foundation's weightlifting facilities at Fort Regent.

They will be on deck today to speak to anyone coming down to Fort Regent to learn more about the Club. There will also be introductory workshops for those wanting to try their hand at weightlifting. 

The Club will be running weekly classes on Saturdays from the JSF’s facility at Fort Regent, which Amy says they are very fortunate to have access to.

“It can be intimidating to try weightlifting on your own but this is a good opportunity to give it a go in a safe environment,” Amy said. “Going forward the club will be a way of putting people forward to represent Jersey.

Pictured: Hannah Medder and Rhea Munro, two lifters from the Power2Podium team.

“We have fantastic coaches from different gyms and businesses, the Jersey Sport Foundation and Jersey Crossfit. It’s very much a community club, it’s independent and we want to bring in people from everywhere.”