Novice lifters show their sheer power

GREAT WORK: Novice Wairarapa powerlifter Jess Lucas seizes silver at the Masterton Novice 3 Lift and Bench Competition as veteran Masterton powerlifter and past champion Danny "Spike" Wilton stands by. PHOTO/SAM DAVIES

A band of novice Wairarapa powerlifters have qualified as regional contenders at the coming Central Districts showdown.

Wai Weight Private Gym owner Bevan Mackenzie said the second Masterton Novice 3 Lift and Bench Competition was hosted by the Wairarapa Powerlifting Club, and was held at his premises on Saturday, had featured a handful of Wairarapa competitors and came after the inaugural contest at the same venue in March last year.

He said a field of 37 competitors joined battle over a range of weight classes, and a masters class, including powerlifters from Wellington, Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa. He event was also a qualifying round for the Central Districts Provincial 3 Lift Equipped/Classic Powerlifting Champs at the Hastings Fitness Centre on April 11 and 12.

Mr Mackenzie said 23 men and 14 women competed in Masterton last weekend. Wairarapa lifters who qualified for the Central District champs included Cam Waru, who took silver in the 105kg Open Male class with a 190kg squat, 130kg bench press and a 225kg dead lift; Jess Lucas, who took silver in the 84kg Female Junior class with a 125kg squat, 60kg bench press and 130kg dead lift; Neal Mijares, who qualified in the 74kg Male Open class with a 140kg squat, a 95kg bench press and a 130kg dead lift; and Patrick Barber, who qualified in the 120kg plus Masters class with a squat of 145kg, a 135kg bench press and a 180kg dead lift.

Masterton's Tim Hintz also qualified event for the Central Districts 120kg bench lift showdown with a bench press of 180kg, and fellow veteran Wairarapa Danny "Spike" Wilton and Colin McCarthy were also set to compete at the regional event, Mr Mackenzie said.

"Our powerlifters have done very well and we're really proud of all of them. It was excellent to watch and very good fun. We will be doing it again, for sure."

Another 3 Lift and Bench Competition will be held on December 12, he said, and there also may be a push-pull competition in future, which focuses on dead lift and bench "just for a bit of fun".

"Hopefully, Wairarapa lifters from other gyms will come and take part as well, because anybody who wants to have a go is supported, encouraged and cheered on - very loudly."

World champion Masterton powerlifter Brett Gibbs, who trains at Wai Weight, will also compete next month at the three-day Fitness and Health Expo running at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 10.

Ms Lucas said she had thoroughly enjoyed competing on Saturday and was keen to join battle at the Central Districts championships.

"It was a fantastic day, and an awesome first experience of the powerlifting scene from my point of view. I loved it and have definitely caught the lifting bug. Wai Weight was a spectacular host, of course, and everyone was really supportive and motivating for each other."

Gibbs, 24, will pit himself at the invitation-only event against some of the best in the Australasian region, he said, and would focus on shattering his own world record squat of 280kg.