The first quarter of 2025 has seen much success across the organisation and its membership.

Behind the scenes the board and staff have been working towards and new strategy and full operational review as an organisation to ensure a more sustainable future. With the sector seeing reduction in government investments, it is important we continue to maintain and improve standard but also explore new opportunities for investment within our programmes that can benefit the members in the long term.

The Welsh Age Groups saw record numbers entered, with some great performances across weightlifting and para powerlifting events, with several Welsh records being broken on the day, proving the future of Welsh Weightlifting looks bright. The Welsh record breakers consisted of: Llewellyn Waits, Bethan Harry, Sara Jones, Evelyn Thomas, Isla Travers, and Grace Morris. 

The weekend after the age groups, a team of 7 athletes (Llewellyn Waits, Emily Baron, Nyarai Hector, Isla Travers, Madaline Connelly, Daniel Davies, Oliver Godwin) attended the small nations international open in Malta with 4 making their international debut. Outstanding results were achieved, with Llewellyn Waits securing a bronze medal in the overall individual Junior Men’s Sinclair, as well a bronze medal in the overall Junior Team Sinclair. To top it all off, the overall Team Wales finished with an overall team silver medal; the highest ranked home nation finish. This showed how much the whole team delivered numerous standout performances, with many setting new personal bests in the process. A huge well done to all the staff, coaches, and athletes who attended.

Recent training camps (senior camp in January in Bangor, and Development camp in February, in Cardiff) were highly productive for our athletes. The Senior Squad in their training camp saw the introduction to Smartabase, (a data performance app) with ongoing data collection for senior athletes. The Development Squad camp was supported by the Sport Wales Performance team at the National Centre in Cardiff, focused on nutrition for performance through kitchen-based learning and practical cooking sessions. Positive feedback by athletes on both training camps, helped through lots of interactive learning.

Work still continues with Team Wales regarding Glasgow 2026 and the qualification and selection policies to ensure we get a comprehensive policy out as quickly as possible for our athletes.

In other updates, we are delighted to welcome the return of Hannah Powell to the staff following her maternity leave, as well as the recruitment of Sarah Jones to the board of directors. Sarah's experience and skills will continue to strengthen the board. I would like to thank Nathan Stephen's for his service and commitment to the board following his recent departure at the end of 2024, although through his professional role at Disability Sport Wales I have no doubt we will continue to work with Nathan to develop our Para Powerlifting programme. His knowledge and insight have been fundamental to the organisation over the years.

In terms of club development, face-to-face club visits continue to take place this year, enabling for greater club engagement, alongside adopting a more structured approach to club visits, focusing on specific topics and tailored support. Ongoing support to Diamond Weightlifting is being provided as the club transitions to new ownership, with a new club in Flintshire being supported through the licensing process. Also, initial discussions with British Weightlifting are ongoing to develop a regional inter-club competition – aiming to increase participation and hosting opportunities for clubs.

Weightlifting Wales was immensely proud to hear the news in February of Llanelli Weightlifting Club and their head coach, Matthew De Filippo, who were both recognised at last month's Actif Carmarthenshire Sports Awards 2024, with Matthew winning the award of Coach of the Year.

We've also been delighted to secure funding to deliver an Actif North Wales programme that will see a series of weightlifting community programmes delivered in partnership with local clubs and councils. The dedicated aim of programme is to support young women and girls facing inequalities in North Wales. This funding will enable the development of new approaches to breaking down barriers to physical activity, ensuring that more girls have access to the benefits of strength training and weightlifting.

Ongoing work through 2024 to complete the Sport Wales / CPSU annual safeguarding review had meant Weightlifting Wales were able to maintain NGB Level 2 Safeguarding Standard, following 34 out of 35 areas being met as part of the review. Ongoing action to continue consultation with Children and Young People will be progressing, to fully meet the standard.

I am looking forward to the coming months with the European Seniors seeing Nikole Roberts as the sole Welsh representative in the GB Squad, the Welsh Open in Llanelli with the new bodyweight categories in place and a first for British Senior's qualification. The continued squad programme to support preparations for both national and international selections. And finally, work will continue to finalise and launch our new strategy in the coming months. It has been a busy first quarter of 2025 with lots happening behind the scenes that will support a busy 18 month period.