So 2017 has proved to be an been an outstanding year for Strength Academy Wales.
Our sports club aims to encourage members to immerse themselves in Sports conditioning, Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Strongman, Para Powerlifting, Health and Fitness, coaching, officiating, volunteering and coach education.
This year, Harry Thomas has been the first Pembrokeshire athlete to compete in Para Powerlifting, he has qualified and competed at the British Senior Powerlifting Championships. Harry has also competed in a number of local competitions. He continues to make good progress in technique and strength.
Para Powerlifting coaches have been selected for International events. Simon Roach and Jim Horner both coached at the Para Powerlifting World Cup Championships, in Hungary. Jim Horner qualified as an International Para Powerlifting Technical Official. Pembrokeshire coaches, Justin Head and Darren Rogers are also involved in the In-Sport events promoting Disability Powerlifting in the County.
The Weightlifters at SAW have also had a tremendous year, James Hart and Chloe Hood both British Gold medallists at Youth British Championships. Anita Madan Bronze medallist, Chloe Hood Silver medallist both at Junior British Championships. Daisy Melhuish Bronze medallist at British Senior Championships.
Representing Wales – Chloe Hood Gold medal, James Hart Bronze medal, Louis Thomas Silver medal at the Junior Battle – Austria.
Niamh Roach, Chloe Hood, Louis Thomas, Alex John, James Hart, Anita Madan and Daisy Melhuish representing Wales in either or both the 2016 and 2017 Celtic Nations.
During the later part of this year Younger members competed in the Welsh Age Groups. Dan Davies, y13 winning gold and the Welsh title. Seren Mitchell u15 Gold Medal and National Champion. Grace MCLean and Dan Thomas both u15 and winning Silver.
More recently, Carl Rees made a good performance in the Welsh Open and Chloe Hood has been selected for the British Youth Weightlifting squad.
Pembrokeshire’s Technical Officials have joined in with the success. Both Darren Rogers and Stephen Donovan have qualified as International Technical officials. Both officiate for Wales, Great Britain and Internationally. Stephen selected by British Weightlifting, represented Great Britain and officiated at the European Youth Championships – Kosovo. The International Weightlifting Federation has also selected Stephen to officiate in Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, 2018. A huge achievement for Stephen and the club.
Alex John – One of the youngest Technical officials for Pembrokeshire and Wales has refereed in both County and National events and has aspirations to officiate at International competitions representing Great Britain.
The weightlifting successes are also seen throughout Pembrokeshire Secondary Schools.
In collaboration with Pembrokeshire County Council, Justin Head has set up an extremely successful development programme which is funded by LAPA. The programme educates volunteer coaches, creates clubs in schools and increases participation. As a result the Pembrokeshire Schools Weightlifting Championships this year had over 40 entries. With 5 secondary schools now developing the sport. Weightlifting will continue to develop at grass root level within the County.
SAW now impressively has one of the highest number of Weightlifters, Volunteer coaches and volunteer officials from a single club in Wales. Competitive lifters at all age groups u13, u15, u17, u20, u23 and senior. 16 Voluntary coaches, 10 voluntary officials.
The club offers education for volunteer coaches and volunteer Technical Officials. Supporting new coaches and officials through their progression in the sport.
GCSE and A Level students who are also members at SAW have been using Weightlifting as examined practical option, to help achieve higher grades.
The work at SAW is supported by South Pembs Weightlifting Club, Pembroke Dock.
However, most of the members at SAW are not Weightlifters or Powerlifters, but include a healthy amount of Pembrokeshire Sports people, accessing the coaching services to condition for their sports.
Sports conditioning for Pembrokeshire teams has included Pembrokeshire Schools U18’s, Scarlets West U16’s, County U15’s Rugby squads and Pembrokeshire County Swimming Performance Team. The club coaches, fitness test and plan specific training programmes for an array of sports people, including Welsh Athletics throws athlete James Tomlinson, Silver medal Commonwealth Youth Games, Bahamans; WRU – Kemsley Mathias u18 Welsh capped player, South Africa; Katie Thicker WRU Welsh Squad; And Welsh Judo athlete Ashleigh Barknikel to name a few.
Sports people who are members at SAW benefit from expert coaching in Strength and Conditioning; And also specific strength programming, specific to each sport and each individual.
Strongman and Powerlifting athletes have performed extremely well too, with Rory Brown, gaining an impressive 2nd place at Devon Strongman Championships and Indy Singh recently competing in Malta and winning the British Forces World Powerlifting Championships.
The supportive coaching environment not only benefits sports people but also benefits members wishing to use weights to develop health, fitness and well-being. There is an increasing number of members training to develop health and fitness, via safe and well guided training sessions. Members have made good progress in developing their health and fitness goals, with numerous personal bests being broken throughout the year.