Welsh Masters Open and Welsh Autumn Open 2025
Event Information
Weightlifting Wales are excited to be delivering the Welsh Masters and Autumn Open 2025 across the second weekend in September at Strength Academy Wales, Haverfordwest.
This is set to bring the best masters athletes from across Wales, as well as open to masters athletes from the rest of the UK and beyond. The Welsh Masters Open is set to take place on the Saturday of the event weekend (Saturday 13th September). With the turn of the Welsh Autumn Open on the Sunday 14th September to cap off a brilliant two days of competition ahead.
Competition entries for this event weekend open on Monday 14th July and will close on the end of Sunday 17th August. Entries are to be made via Sport 80, with a link found below:
Please note that there are no qualification standards for either event days.
The start lists will be added to this event page and communicated out once completed, which will be after the entries close. If you have any questions/queries around your entry, you can contact admin@weightlifting.wales
These competitions are classed as a Tier 2 event, with it being 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
Event Details
Dates: Saturday 13th September - Welsh Masters Open
Sunday 14th May - Welsh Autumn Open
Location: Strength Academy Wales
Venue Address: Pembrokeshire Sports Village, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 2NX
Competition Venue (Strength Academy Wales)
Spectators
Spectator tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite ahead of the competition. If you do not wish to do so, you will be expected to pay at the door as you enter through the main sports hall (cash only). To avoid any inconveniences on the day, we recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of the competition.
The link to the Eventbrite page for spectator tickets can be find below.
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.
Travelling by 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).
Food/Drink and Refreshments
There will be a catering stall on site within the colleague campus facility of the venue where athletes and spectators can purchase food such as a variety of hot food, sandwiches, snacks and hot/cold drinks.
There will be a mini food portacabin stall (like shown in the picture) just outside the main entrance to the venue that will providing a wide range of selection of hot/cold food and snacks, as well as hot/cold drinks for all athletes, spectators, officials, staff etc to purchase. It will open all day for duration of both days of the competitions, approximately 09.00 – 17.00.
The full offering for this event will be similar to the following:
- Hot Bacon / Sausage Baguettes
- Freshly Made Cold Baguettes - (choose from various fillings Ham/Cheese/Tuna Mayo /Turkey Stuffing and Cranberry/ Cheese/ Salads)
- Cakes of the day
- Homemade Chicken Curry , Rice and Garlic Naan
- Homemade Beef Lasagne and Garlic Bread
- Homemade Vegetable Chilli1, Rice and Garlic Naan
- Hot Drinks
- Cold Drinks
- Snacks (crisps, chocolate)
- Freshly Made Fruit pots
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 lanyard 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, a Level 2 Weightlifting qualification, a valid safeguarding qualification, an enhanced DBS and a valid coaching license. We highly recommend all coaches attend a safeguarding course each year ahead of competitions.
Only coaches with a current BWL license will be able to collect a coach accreditation (lanyard) 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 and may be subject to further action after the competition.
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.
All under 18's must weigh in their clothes; this can be the lifting attire they will wear, or just shorts / leggings and a t-shirt and need to be accompanied by a chaperone. Socks and shoes will be removed. Female officials will only weigh-in female lifters, and male officials will only weigh-in male competitors.
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 athlete bodyweights will be recorded on the day, in which will 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.
Note that presentation of the lifters will take place 10 minutes before the start of the group. Medals of the previous group will presented in the 10 minutes after presentation of lifters for the preceding group; with competition start times subject change depending on how quickly things run on the day.
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.
If a lifter fails to register a successful attempt in either the Snatch or the Clean and Jerk, they will not receive a total and therefore will not be ranked in the competition.
There will usually be a 10-minute break between the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk part of the competition unless otherwise announced or stated on the start list schedule.
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 2025 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 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:
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 people taking content.
Below is a guide on photography and video at events, as well as the attached infographic for advice on spectator photography.
Food truck onsite at the event
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 lanyard 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, a Level 2 Weightlifting qualification, a valid safeguarding qualification, an enhanced DBS and a valid coaching license. We highly recommend all coaches attend a safeguarding course each year ahead of competitions.
Only coaches with a current BWL license will be able to collect a coach accreditation (lanyard) 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 and may be subject to further action after the competition.
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.
All under 18's must weigh in their clothes; this can be the lifting attire they will wear, or just shorts / leggings and a t-shirt and need to be accompanied by a chaperone. Socks and shoes will be removed. Female officials will only weigh-in female lifters, and male officials will only weigh-in male competitors.
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 athlete bodyweights will be recorded on the day, in which will 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.
Note that presentation of the lifters will take place 10 minutes before the start of the group. Medals of the previous group will presented in the 10 minutes after presentation of lifters for the preceding group; with competition start times subject change depending on how quickly things run on the day.
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.
If a lifter fails to register a successful attempt in either the Snatch or the Clean and Jerk, they will not receive a total and therefore will not be ranked in the competition.
There will usually be a 10-minute break between the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk part of the competition unless otherwise announced or stated on the start list schedule.
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 2025 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 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:
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 people taking content.
Below is a guide on photography and video at events, as well as the attached infographic for advice on spectator photography.
Weightlifting Wales Photography Guidelines at events
Medic
There will be a ambulance paramedic team on site throughout the competition's duration if required for any medical incidents.
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.
