The Weightlifting Wales 2025 Age Group Championships took place across Saturday 15th March at Canolfan Brailsford Sports Centre, Bangor University, Gwynedd. Instead of hosting the event in the main sports hall, like had been done in previous years when the Age Groups has been staged in Bangor, the decision was taken to host the event in the Platform 81 gym, which went on to prove to be a great decision. This is given of the more intimate, close up feeling the smaller size that the Platform 81 room provided, helping to maintain a great atmosphere for all the lifters to gain important experience from. This annual event showcased the talents of young Welsh weightlifters across various age categories from Under 12 to Under 23, highlighting the governing body’s commitment to nurturing future champions.

The competition commenced early morning with Group 1, which saw Para-Powerlifting take centre stage. This Para-Powerlifting group contested of current development squad athletes in Evelyn Thomas (SAW Academy) and Sara Jones (Llanelli Weightlifting Academy) delivering remarkable performances across their three benches, setting an inspiring tone for the day. Each of them going on to achieve gold medals in their respective age categories. 

Group 2 featured an impressive lineup of young athletes across Under 12, Under 15, and Under 17 weight categories, with lifters competing across various weight classes. The session saw fierce competition, personal bests, and significant milestones achieved, with a total of 10 medals up for grabs. Bethan Harry (of Club 646 Weightlifting club) emerged as the strongest lifter in Group 2, leading the session in total weight lifted, level with sinclair points, as she achieved a total of 124kg (56kg Snatch, 68kg Clean & Jerk) in the Under 15 W55 category. Ava Abed and Hattie Lawton-Jones showed great promise in the Under 12 age category, demonstrating technical proficiency beyond their years. Whereas, in the Under 17 age category, Naomi Burton and Hazel Williams competed fiercely in the W55 weight class, to earn scores of 104kg total (46kg Snatch, 58kg Clean & Jerk) and 94kg total (39kg Snatch, 55kg Clean & Jerk) respectively, which resulted in Naomi securing top spot and the gold medal. Both individual’s performances on the day certainly proving they are contenders for future national selections.

Thereafter was the boys turn in Group 3, across the Under 12 – Under 17 age categories. This group of the Welsh Age Group Championships featured a competitive field of lifters, with development squad athlete, Llewellyn Waits being the stand-out athlete of the session, reaching an exceptional performance of a 195kg total in the Under 17, 61kg category as he gets ready to head to Malta for the European Small Nations event. Elsewhere, Charlie Ellis-Perry (U15, 55kg) went 6 for 6 on his lifts, securing a solid 114kg total to earn himself a gold medal. Young talent Harri Davies from New Wave Weightlifting club showed promise with a 78 points total score in the Under 12 age category to secure himself a gold medal as well.

Coming up to midway through the day as Group 4 entered the main platform stage, with Izzabelle Deakin (Under 15, 87kg weight class) becoming the top overall lifter of the session, as she amassed a total of 127kg, through the help of an amazing 70kg clean and jerk successful attempt which delighted the whole crowd. Della Pemberton lifted the highest snatch attempt in the session of 58kg, which took her to take 1st place on the podium in the Under 15, 87+kg category as she totalled 129kg. A closely fought contest in the Under15, 64kg category, seen Poppy James of Evolve Weightlifting club just edge out Saskia Stocks, winning the gold medal by just a 5kg total difference. Amara-Lili Roberts was the last of the Under 12’s of the day to lift, but this still meant she was able to demonstrate impressive composure to successfully complete all six of her lifts to secure a gold medal with 88 points. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing in this session as Nyarai Hector will look to bounce back in Malta as part of the Welsh Team for the European Small Nations after an unfortunate no total in this competition following being unsuccessful in all three attempts at 82kg in the clean and jerk.

Group 5 featured Under 17, U20, and U23 lifters in the 73kg and 81kg categories. The session included some of the highest totals of the competition, with several lifters delivering standout performances. Cian Green (U23, 81kg, Bangor University Weightlifting Club) dominated the session and was shown to be top overall lifter of the group with a 251kg total, as he got to stand happily on the 1st place podium position. Fellow Bangor University Weightlifting Club member Jac Green reached in the 200’s kg total in the U17, 73kg category to earn top spot with a 2025kg total above Theo Graham (189kg total) and Trystan Thompson (160kg) in the podium places. Macsen Evans, Seamus Leonard-Thomas, and Osian Brown also delivered notable performances on their way to picking up gold medals.

Group 6 showcased technical lifting and strong performances across the 49kg, 55kg, and 64kg categories as the age groups went up to Under 20 – U23. Georgia Roberts emerged as the top lifter in this group of 4 with an impressive 128kg total, while Millie Lerwill showed her impressive talent in the 55kg category. Meanwhile, Alys Le Roux displayed great consistency as she gained a 121kg total, and Emma Brooks fought through challenges in the clean & jerk as she just managed to avoid a bomb out. These four lifters demonstrated great potential for future competitions.

Key takeaways from the penultimate group which featured Under 20 and Under 23 male lifters in the 89kg, 96kg, and 109+kg categories. High quality lifts and strong competition among the top performers pursued, with Matthew Collins from Club 646 Weightlifting in the 96kg Under 23 category achieving an astonishing 237kg total. Johnathan Davies and Brychan Gilson were outstanding performers in the Under 20 age group, both reaching above a 200kg total to claim gold medals, with Nico Heeley from CUBC showcasing his talent as he took gold in the Under 23, 109+kg category. This all came on the back drop of talented development squad athlete Luke Fletcher sustaining a nasty looking lower leg injury following an impact with his falling bar from attempting his third snatch lift, which required urgent medical treatment. Thankfully Luke ‘s injury isn’t as bad as first feared, and it’s thanked of the initial help by the ambulance crew who were on the scene in the venue throughout the day who could be there quickly to assist Luke’s pain. We wish a speedy recovery to Luke!

Finally, to end the day came Group 8, showcasing Under 20 and U23 female lifters across 71kg, 87kg, and 87+kg categories. Niamh Collins (U23, 87kg class) dominated her category with a 182kg total as a top performer for the concluding session, with numerous other girls in this group breaking into the 150kg+ total range. These included Isla Travers (U20, 71kg) with a 162kg total, Grace Morris (U20, 87+kg) with a 182kg total, and Honey Seaton (U20, 87kg) with a 152kg total. This leading to all four of these girls receiving the final gold medals of the day.

The depth of talent in the Weightlifting Wales scene is growing, with young athletes pushing their limits and improving year after year. With a mix of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers, the event was a testament to the growing talent pool and the commitment of the weightlifting community across the whole of the nation amongst the youth age groups. As the sport continues to thrive, these championships lay the foundation for a future filled with remarkable achievements and a legacy of strength for sustained participation and fulfilled elite national success.

As this marks the end of this year's Welsh Age Group Championships, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who played a role in making this event a success. These championships are more than just a competition—they are a vital platform for young lifters to develop, compete, and excel in their weightlifting journeys. So, a heartfelt thank you goes out to all the volunteers, technical officials, and event staff who dedicated their time and expertise to ensure the smooth running of the competition. Your commitment to the sport and the development of youth athletes is invaluable. We also express our sincere appreciation to the coaches, club representatives, and supporters who continue to inspire and guide the next generation of lifters. Your encouragement and dedication are crucial in shaping future champions. Finally, a special thank you to the host venue of Bangor University Weightlifting Club, and all their organising staff for providing an excellent environment for the competition. The effort and planning that go into creating a professional and welcoming space do not go unnoticed.

The Age Group Championships continue to highlight the strength, resilience, and potential of young lifters, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements. We look forward to witnessing even more growth, records, and personal bests in the years to come.

And here’s to the next Weightlifting Wales event, which we will bring to you from Llanelli Weightlifting Academy across the weekend of the 10th and 11th May for the Welsh Spring Open, which we are all looking forward to.