Dunedin masters competitor Sylvia Clarkson is among the
lifters at the New Zealand bench press championships
tomorrow. Photo by Craig Baxter.
A Dunedin grandmother is shaping as an unlikely star at
the national bench press championships in the city.
Event organiser Marie Soffe said 31 competitors - seven women
and 24 men - would compete at the annual event.
Competitors would press weights that ranged from 50kg to
245kg, she said.
Contestants compete individually and in teams, with the
Southern team 11-strong.
Unfortunately, three of the big southern lifters, Sonia
Manaena, Brent McCormick and Andy Mahon, were away at the
world championships in Germany, Soffe said.
The age of lifters at the Dunedin event would range from 22
to 74.
Rankings would put 65-year-old Careys Bay weightlifter Sylvia
Clarkson sixth in the world for the masters grade, Soffe
said.
Masters was split into three grades - grade one was for
competitors over 40, grade two for over 50, and grade three
for over 60.
"If Sylvia competed in a world event she would be sixth in
the world for the masters weight group. As far as masters
three [over 60], Sylvia would be best in the world," Soffe
said.
Clarkson said she did not have a world ranking because she
had never competed at the world championships. But she
intended to go to the next world event.
"I'll sort that out next year when I go to Texas," Clarkson
said.
Firstly, she was focused on setting a national record for
bench press for her age (over 60) and weight (under 63kg)
tomorrow.
The 61.7kg grandmother of nine recently set national records
in the dead lift (120kg) and the squat (102.5kg).
If she presses 55kg tomorrow, she will set a bench press
record for her weight and age.
Her best competition press was 52.5kg but she believed she
could press 55kg or more, during the three attempts allowed.
"On competition day, you push yourself past what you know you
can do. The adrenaline comes from the competition atmosphere.
You can astound yourself."
Clarkson works as a nurse at Ross Home and Hospital in
Dunedin two days a week, and trains in the gym for four. She
began lifting weights competitively in 2008.
"I had a back injury in 2005, so I came to the gym to
strengthen my back up. I really enjoyed it and have been
doing it ever since," she said.
"I'll do it as long as I'm able because I love it. I love the
competition. It's exciting and I love feeling strong."
Entry for spectators is free tomorrow. Weigh-in begins at
8.15am, with lifting starting at 10.15am. The event is being
held at Sky Fitness.
Bench press
New Zealand championships
Where: Sky Fitness, Moray Pl.
When: Tomorrow from 10.15am.
•
By Shawn McAvinue.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.