Welsh Age Group Championships 2026 and Home Nations Open (winter) - Haverfordwest

Overview 

Weightlifting Wales are excited to be delivering the first national event competition weekend of the year, for the events of the Welsh Age Group Championships 2026 and Home Nation Open (winter). Both competitions are set to take place at the brilliant facility in Pembrokeshire Sports Village in Haverfordwest, on the following days:

• Saturday 21st February - Welsh Age Group Championships
• Sunday 22nd February - Home Nations Open

The 2026 Welsh Age Group Championships will feature the best youth and junior lifters across our nation of Wales battle it out to be crowned Champions in their age category. The different age categories in question are as follows:

• Under 12's - boys and girls
• Under 15's - boys and girls
• Under 17's - boys and girls
• Under 20's - men and women
• Under 23's - men and women

Whereas, the first edition of our newly named 'Home Nations Open' is an opportunity for any athlete no matter where they are located across the UK to compete in one of our Tier 2 events. You could enter to potentially use it as a chance to qualify for international selection, try to climb the rankings, break a British Record, or simply compete at a high level event hosted by one of the NGB's. There are NO qualifying standards in order to enter our Home Nation Open competitions and they are all OPEN for anybody to participate in them who is a British/Irish Weightlifting member.

Both events across the weekend are classed as a Tier 2 event, as they are national events hosted by an NGB. You can find the explanations between the three different tier levels of weightlifting events in accordance with British Weightlifting, as well as other competition rules on our 'competition information' page on the website, which can also be accessed through here: Competition Information

Entries for the Welsh Age Group Championships will open on Friday 12th December at 09:00 am and for the Home Nations Open, entries will be open from Monday 15th December at 09:00 am. Entries are to be made via Sport 80. Please note that the date that both event entries will be closing is SUNDAY 1st FEBRUARY at 11.59pm. 

British Weight Lifting | Sport:80

Venue Location

The full address of the 2026 Welsh Age Group Championships and Home Nations Open taking place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd February is as follows: 

Strength Academy Wales

Pembrokeshire Sports Village, 

Haverfordwest, 

Pembrokeshire, 

SA61 2NX

Please scroll down to see important updates for U'12's - U'17's weigh-in procedures for this event

Please scroll down to see important updates for U'12's - U'17's weigh-in procedures for this event

Travelling to the venue

Travelling by Car/Car Parking

The main access road to Pembrokeshire Sports Village connects to the A40 c.150m north of the Scotchwell Roundabout. The access road incorporates the following: 

• A partially traffic signalised junction incorporating an uncontrolled left turn lane (from the northbound A40 carriageway) and a prohibited right turn (from the southbound A40 carriageway); 

• A 40mph speed limit (terminating to the north of the access road in the vicinity of Scotchwell Lane); 

• The access road itself has a 20mph speed limit reducing to 5 mph once within the grounds of the school. 

• A footway adjacent to the northbound A40 carriageway (linking to the existing footway at the Scotchwell Roundabout and extending into the school via the access road); 

• A maintenance bay; with street lighting in the vicinity of the A40 junction. 

There is also vehicular access via the Back Lane mini-roundabout and provides drop off/pick up area facilities. The main pedestrian entrance to the venue is via the Back Lane mini roundabout, this access leads to the main parking area. 

Free parking is available at the venue. The car park is a wheelchair-accessible car park that provides designated accessible car parking spaces, alongside a wheelchair-accessible entrance to the venue itself. 

Train:

Haverfordwest Railway Station is located approximately c.300m south from the proposed site. The station is considered to be within comfortable cycling distance (c.5 mins) and a distance also suitable for walking (c.10 mins).

Haverfordwest Railway Station is operated by Transport for Wales (TfW), with a usual service pattern of a train every two hours southwards towards Milford Haven and east / northwards towards Manchester Piccadilly (via Swansea, Cardiff Central and Hereford). 

Weigh-Ins 

All weigh-ins will take place at the venue and athletes will be directed from the reception desk to the weigh in room. 

Athletes are required to weigh in in their singlets. For athletes that are intending to make weight, athletes that are ‘over’ their category will have a 0.25kg deduction to account for the weight of the singlet as per International Weightlifting Federation protocol.

Competing athletes will need to take some form of identification with them when they go to weigh-in, so the Officials can verify everyone. All athletes 13years and over will be weighed-in, in which those athletes will then be provided their 'starting weights' for the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk, so for athletes, be sure to check with your coach what numbers you should put down. But do not worry-your coach can change these during the competition.

If any athlete aged 18 or above is to weigh-in on competition day above the maximum threshold for the bodyweight category they have entered in, then they will still be able to take part in the event but will instead be competing as a GUEST lifter, and therefore won't be in the competition itself within the group and won't earn a position within the category they have entered in. We strongly encourage all lifters aged 13years and above to inform the competition organiser of any category changes at least 3 days prior to the event to help ensure smooth scheduling all lifters. This enables us to ensure that lifters are all scheduled correctly on the day. 

All under 18's may weigh-in wearing the clothes they will compete in, which may be either a singlet OR shorts/leggings and a T-shirt / long sleeve fitted top as per competition rules. Socks and shoes will be removed. Female officials will only weigh-in female lifters, and male officials will only weigh-in male competitors. 

Safeguarding and Good Practice: Youth Bodyweight Categories at WW Events

At Weightlifting Wales, we recognise that young lifters are growing and adapting to training. To support their development and wellbeing, the following trial rules will apply at WW events:

• Under 12s:
  There will be no weigh-in for U12 lifters. Openers and paperwork will still be completed 2 hours before competition.
  Results will be based on technical points, with an emphasis on safe, efficient lifting.
• Under 13 – Under 17s:
  If a lifter weighs over or under their selected category on the day, they will be moved into the correct category and remain in full competition - not as a guest. Their results will be transferred accordingly.
• Bodyweight Category Changes:
  All lifters no matter their age should inform the competition organiser of any category changes at least 3 days prior to the event to help ensure smooth scheduling.
• Reducing Weight:
  WW strongly discourages any lifter under 18 from cutting weight for competition. If a change of category is needed, please let the organiser know - it is no problem to update this before the event.

Note on U12 Entries via Sport80:
The Sport80 entry system, managed by British Weight Lifting, has not yet been updated for these trial regulations. U12 lifters should select any bodyweight category when entering online - this will be disregarded once entries close.

Accreditation

For athletes competing, identification and proof of membership are required and are essential at weigh-in; please bring these along with you on the day. No physical ID; you will not be allowed to lift.

Technical officials are to collect an accreditation wristband through the Weightlifting Wales team on arrival to the venue.

To coach in any Weightlifting Wales or British Weightlifting competition, UK coaches will need to have in place a current membership with British Weightlifting, and a Level 2 Olympic Weightlifting qualification as part of a valid coaching license. We highly recommend all coaches attend a safeguarding course each year ahead of competitions.

Only coaches with a current BWL licence will be able to collect a coach accreditation (wristband) and any coach found passing their accreditation to another person will have their accreditation withdrawn and may be subject to further action after the competition. Any person found in the warm-up area without an athlete accreditation or coach wristband will be asked to leave the area immediately.

Competition Rules

In Weightlifting and Para-Powerlifting, you are permitted to use certain types of support and wear specific accessories of clothing during the competition. You should check the equipment you have is legal in weightlifting before your competition, as the Technical Controller may check this and tell you that your equipment is not allowed.

For more information on what type of clothing is permitted, as well as the full run down of the Technical Rules set by the International Weightlifting Federation and World Para Powerlifting, find the links below:

International Weightlifting Federation Technical Rules

World Para Powerlifting Technical Rules

On competition day, lifters have three attempts in the Snatch, and three in the Clean and Jerk. A lifter's best attempts in each discipline are combined to give a total, on which the ranking of the competition is based.

The referees will signal to the lifter when to put the bar down when they are satisfied the lift is complete and they will signal using a light system whether the lift was a 'good' or a 'no' lift. If a lifter receives two or more white lights, this is a 'good lift', if the lifter receives two or more red lifts, this is a 'no lift'.

Please remember the `foot touching the bar' rule: A no lift will be given if an individual uses his/her foot to move the bar before the attempt or puts their foot on the bar or plates before the attempt. The technical official must press the red button to indicate a no lift. If the barbell is touched with a foot after a successful attempt the referees’ decision will not be reversed, however a warning will be given to the lifter. If the lifter repeats this action on a subsequent lift, the lift will be a No Lift.

There will usually be a 10-minute break between the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk part of the competition unless otherwise announced.

The winner of the competition is the lifter who registers the highest total. If two lifters reach the same total, then the lifter who achieved this first in the competition will be the winner.

Under 12 Lifters: The BWL points scoring system for under 12s; encouraging the technical abilities of young lifters at these crucial age groups. The points system is designed to encourage lifter’s technical ability rather than how much they can lift and so be competitive because of their technical ability. The final points awarded are a combination of technical ability and weight lifted rather than just weight lifted. The lifter will score the most points through the highest combination of technique points scored and the weight lifted in kilograms in the two lifts of the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk.

Anti-Doping

This is a UK Anti-Doping sanctioned event. As such, UKAD can be present during the competition day and select lifters for anti-doping testing.

For more information on the changes within the 2026 World Anti-Doping Code, as well as the full prohibited, find the relevant link below to the area on the UKAD website.

https://www.ukad.org.uk/athletes/whats-banned-sport-prohibited-list

Photography

There will often be a WW staff member or external photographer at events taking photos and videos for promotional and advertising purposes. These may be used on our social media channels, our website, and on posters, to showcase our sport. 

Grip and Rip will also be there across both days capturing everyone's lifts. These will be available to purchase on their website at:

 https://www.gripandrip.co.uk/ 

OR head to @gripandrip.media on Instagram to check out their content ahead of the event weekend.

If you decide on the day of competition that you do not want photos to be taken of you/your child, you must inform a member of the Weightlifting Wales team so he/she may inform the photographer.

Below is a guide on photography and video at events, as well as the attached infographic for advice on spectator photography.

WW/BWL Photography and Video Guidelines

Medical

There will be a paramedic team on site throughout the competition's duration.

Safeguarding

Our designated safeguarding lead is Simon Roach, who will on site in the venue during the whole day. If you suspect a safeguarding concern, please contact Simon Roach at simon.roach@weightlifting.wales , or should be reported to the front desk area who will communicate out for Simon. Our deputy safeguarding lead Hannah Powell (hannah.powell@weightlifting.wales ), will also be present on the day.