A gold, a silver, and a whole lot of experience.
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Eleven Lifted Strength and Nutrition powerlifters travelled to Dubbo on December 1 to compete in the GPC National Push Pull competition hosted by Nemesis Fitness.
For Heidi Kenny, Jaime Chounding, Bianca Lincoln, Adam Carter, Cooper Hinton Josh Howarth, it was their first time competing in a powerlifting competition and coach, Hannah McDonald says it is likely to be a moment they won't forget.
"Five of our clients had never done it before and had been working up to it for six months, it was exciting for them because it was an experience," she said.
"Two highlights out of the novices were our two junior lifters, Cooper Hinton and Heidi Kenny. They both just absolutely had everyone screaming for them.
It was really good to see these kids compete and have the whole crowd get behind them, it just gave them that boost to their self esteem.
- Powerlifting coach, Hannah McDonald
As for head coach, Dylan McDonald, he went above and beyond his lifts taking gold for overall male with a bench of 175kg and deadlift of 305kg.
Alyson Shaw also put her muscle and mind to the test, resulting in a silver for overall female with a 70kg bench and 125kg deadlift, as well as second overall in the 56kg weight class out of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
"We had some amazing success on the day, a lot of our guys got personal bests or PR's so they overshot their previous PR, they all got their goal," Hannah said.
"The competition was to rep out the most amount of weight as possible, to hit a one rep max."
McDonald added that while powerlifting was once considered a less popular sport, it has however become quite a different story for Mudgee with 25 competitors expected to compete in March 2020.
"We're really expanding in Mudgee, it's just blowing up. There is now more Lifted Strength and Nutrition competitors than there are at our sister club, Nemesis so Mudgee are actually taking over Dubbo," she said.
"It's so encouraging to see the promotion of the sport. It just shows that strength training is on the rise and that is very encouraging.
The beauty of it is that we're not driven by aesthetic, it doesn't matter if someone is muscular or skinny, it's not about that, it's not about how you look to us, it's about team, culture and strength.
"There is a shifting mentality in the fitness industry and it's really good to see."
Results:
- Rhys Bartholomew, 4th, B 100kg DL 215kg (sanctioned)
- Karly Bartholomew, 6th, B 55 DL 102.5 (sanctioned)
- Rachel Howarth, 4th, B 55 DL 150 (sanctioned)
- Cooper Hinton, 12yo, B 47.5kg DL 90kg (novice)
- Heidi Kenny, 14yo, B 27.5kg DL57.5 (novice)
- Jaimie Chounding, B55 DL 105 (novice)
- Bianca Lincoln, B 52.5 DL 115 (novice)
- Adam Carter, B 107.5 DL 175 (novice)
- Josh Howarth, B 102.5 DL 147.5 (novice)