Team to switch on power

FATE IN HER HANDS: Tracey Stewart, of Northland, will make her weightlifting debut this weekend at the North Island championships. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

The six-month-old Northland Olympic Weightlifting Club has a small group of lifters taking part in the North Island championships, led by teenage Oceania medal winners Paige Lawgun and Taiao Cordtz-Kawiti.

Northland coach Jacob Lawgun said the competition, starting today in Wellington, had many purposes for those involved.

With lifters of all ages, Jacob noted some would be going for the experience rather than the win but he hoped some would get on the podium.

"You can lift well in training but when you get to competition and the only one on the platform, with all these judges and eyes on you, you could potentially miss your warm-up weight purely from nerves. We've got a good pool to choose from," Jacob said.

He felt Northland lifters potentially could make events such as the Commonwealth Games.

"What makes a good weightlifter is a consistency ... that will bring you results, and fine-tuning and encouraging that consistency."

Northlanders taking part this weekend are Isaac Lawgun, Taiao Cordtz-Kawiti, Tracey Stewart, Rory Taylor, Shane Ball, David Farrell and Paige Lawgun.

Jacob said for someone such as Stewart, who was more of a crossfit athlete, this weekend would be about seeing what she could do.

After this weekend's competition, the South Island championships take place before the nationals in October.