The latest Home Nations Open brought together athletes from across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland for a highly competitive weekend of weightlifting, with personal bests, national records and impressive championship performances highlighting the strength of the sport across the Home Nations.

Hosted at the Llanelli Weightlifting Academy, the event attracted a strong field of lifters ranging from emerging talent to experienced international athletes. The competition also served as an important opportunity for athletes targeting future international selection and national championship qualification.

Across the weekend, spectators were treated to a number of outstanding performances, with several athletes producing personal best totals and delivering exciting battles for podium positions.

Standout Performances

Among the highlights were a series of impressive lifts across both the men's and women's categories, showcasing the continued development of athletes throughout the Home Nations.

Notable performances included:

• Charlotte Whalley achieving a personal best 190kg total.
• Nicola Stiddard setting new Welsh records in the snatch, clean & jerk and total.
• James Wales posting the biggest total of the competition weekend with 329kg.
• Several junior and under-23 athletes producing personal best performances as they continue their progression through the performance pathway.

The event also demonstrated the depth of talent emerging from clubs across the UK, with numerous lifters achieving six successful lifts and setting new personal milestones.

A Growing Competition

The Home Nations Open continues to establish itself as one of the flagship competitions on the domestic calendar, providing athletes with a high-quality competitive environment and the opportunity to compete against lifters from across the United Kingdom.

Weightlifting Wales Chief Operating Officer Simon Roach said:

"Once again, the Home Nations Open showcased the strength of weightlifting across the UK. We were delighted to welcome athletes, coaches and supporters from across the Home Nations and witness such a high standard of competition throughout the weekend.

The performances on display reflected the dedication of athletes and coaches working hard within clubs and performance programmes across the country. Events like this are vital in supporting athlete development and strengthening our weightlifting community."

Thank You

Weightlifting Wales would like to thank all athletes, coaches, technical officials, volunteers, loaders, event staff and spectators who contributed to the success of the competition.

Special thanks also go to the host venue and event partners for their support in delivering a fantastic weekend of weightlifting.

Full competition results are available via the Weightlifting Wales website.