The men’s and women’s squads travelled to Sweden for a training camp at the home of leading weightlifting manufacturers Eleiko before facing off against some of the country’s top athletes.
The visit marked the latest step in the sport’s growth, which this year has also seen lifters move onto the international stage with some eye-catching results recorded along the way.
The trio of SSgt Russell Davies (RAPTC), Cpl Alex Parkes (RE) and Sgt Kirsty Allen (QRH) under coach SSgt Tom Hunt (R Signals) all competed at the European Masters Weightlifting Championships in Albania, with Parkes claiming a bronze medal in the M35 73kg category.
Davies and Allen finished fourth in their respective fields, meaning all three qualified for the World Masters Championships.
Staged in Las Vegas, the contest saw Allen take silver and Parkes bronze, with Davies (pictured below) placing seventh.
“The Europeans were the most competitive they have been for five years,” Davies, who is also the operations manager for British Army Weightlifting, told SoldierSport. “The standard of athlete coming through is now really starting to show.
“Personally, I underperformed and didn’t have my best day. I’ve suffered a lot with injuries this year, as well as the volume of competitions, and was gutted to place fourth. But it is all part of the learning process and the main goal was to hit the qualifying standard for the World Championships.
“I changed weight categories at the last minute, so the goal was to just enjoy the moment. To now walk around and say I’m seventh in the world is crazy.”
For Allen, a medal-winning performance in the US was an unexpected bonus given the fact it was only her second international competition.
“I just wanted to hit the top ten,” she explained. “That would have been a great achievement.
“But when I had a chance of medalling my competitive side came out. It hasn’t sunk in yet.
“That first lift was nerve-wracking, and there were some very strong girls in my category. I had Russ and Alex as my backstage support, and they kept me focused.
“I was sitting in third place with two lifters left to go. One of them failed to make her lift and that pushed me up to second; we were watching on the big screen and when the result came through I was overjoyed.
“It was such a big moment for the masters’ team.”
The forces contest takes place in Portsmouth on November 5.
