Raise the Bar Newcastle!

Olympic Weightlifting is a major world sport – one of the top six sports, in terms of number of countries taking part. The beauty of this sport is that it is open to everybody – people of every shape and size are welcome, as they compete in their own weight category. It is also a great way of keeping fit!
The main focus for younger people is to learning about safety and sound techniques, and not to lift maximum weights. The AQA, the UK’s favorite exam board, lists Olympic weightlifting in their GCSE 2010 prospectus, as part of the athletic activities.
Olympic Weightlifting athletes produce phenomenally fast actions that make the two competitive lifts (Snatch, Clean and Jerk) look very elegant and graceful.
Since March this year, more and more primary and secondary school students have been quite literally “raising the bar”, in the comfort of their own school. The lifters from all year groups are working hard on their perfect posture, agility, coordination, synchronization, and speed when doing Olympic Weightlifting.
Vika, the qualified BWLA Olympic Weightlifting coach, is constantly promoting the sport she loves, training athletes, and spotting more talented and gifted future stars from the North East. Of course, with the Commonwealth Games 2014 coming to Glasgow, this is a great focus and target for anyone new to Olympic Weightlifting with the determination to succeed.
Have you ever tried it? If not, now there is a chance for you.
In May 2010, with the long term development plan and the help of Clive Wright from Newcastle City Council, the first Olympic Weightlifting club in Newcastle, was set up at the Lightfoot Leisure Centre, in Walker. It is affiliated and sponsored by the British Weightlifting Association. Vika hopes to receive Club mark award, and support lifters in every way possible. The club is open to anyone from the age of 9 years of age, and sessions are free with FUSION cards.
One of the lifters, aged 13, from Walker Schools, who thoroughly enjoyed the after-school activity, commented: “I thought the weightlifting was fun and because I hadn’t tried it before, it was exciting to learn new things”. Jane Hardy, SSCo at the school added: “Our pupils really enjoyed the sessions and Vika was fantastic with the group; she gave the girls lots of confidence!”
Vika is working closely with Joyce Matthews, PDM of Newcastle School Sport Partnership, who helps every step of the way. Thanks to Joyce now more and more schools are inviting Vika to run weightlifting clubs at their schools. Joyce Matthews said: “We are constantly striving for new activities to engage young people, and Vika has the same philosophy that we have in the partnership. Sport changes lives and this could be of these activities that realises untapped potential in our students”.

The sky is the limit in weightlifting! Please come and give and it a go, chances are – you will stay.
Open every Wednesday from 5pm – 6pm and 6pm -7pm
For males and females of 9 – 19+ years of age
FREE with FUSION card at

Lightfoot Centre, Walker

www.raisethebarnewcastle.co.uk

Tel: 0191 2788558
Email: clive.wright@newcastle.gov.uk