Welsh Spring Open 2025

Weightlifting Wales are excited to be delivering the Welsh Spring Open 2025 across the second weekend in May at Llanelli Weightlifting Academy. This is set to be the first Welsh national competition to conduct the new 8+8  bodyweight categories, in line with British Weightlifting's transition in preparedness for the International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) implementation of these new bodyweights from this summer onwards. There are circa 100 total entries for this event, spread over two days. The startlists are attached to this event page.

This event is classed as a Tier 2 event. You can find the explanations between the three different tier levels 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

Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May

Location: Llanelli Weightlifting Academy

Venue Address: Graig Campus, Sandy Road, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 4DN

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.

Welsh Spring Open 2025 tickets

Car Parking

The carpark next to the venue will be extremely busy on both mornings due to junior football and rugby training sessions / fixtures. So, please can all who attend the Welsh Open, park in the main carpark as shown on the attached image map and walk round to the entrance of Llanelli Weightlifting Academy.

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. 

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 licence 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 startlist 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. Head  day capturing your lifts. These will be available to purchase on their website https://www.gripandrip.co.uk/ Head to @gripandrip.media 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.

WW/BWL Photography and Video Guidelines

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.