INTERNATIONALS

Whilst the pandemic situation in the UK has improved considerably, it is unfortunately not the case in many of the countries where internationals are being held. We are therefore reviewing each upcoming international on a case-by-case basis to decide whether it's viable to send teams.

At the moment, we have decided not to send teams to either the European Bench Press or European Masters championships. This has been done in consultation with the respective Head Coaches and the Board.

ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL UK 3RD OCTOBER 2021

These are now being held on a single day, Sunday 3rd October, which means a full day's lifting on the main stage of a full power competition followed by bench press. There will be cash prizes and the results will be decided on IPF points. GBR will have several reserved places and our team will be selected based on IPF points gained at the British Championships. Nominations will be via Goodlift, as per normal IPF procedures and open to all European countries.

SELECTION FOR THE SUB-JUNIOR AND JUNIOR IPF WORLD CLASSIC POWERLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021, MINSK, BELARUS FROM JASON COULTMAN - JUNIOR HEAD COACH

As many of you have already noticed, the IPF World Championships is scheduled for 23rd September to 3rd October this year, which is just over 3 weeks before the Junior British Championships. This obviously presents an unprecedented problem with regards to selection, since the 2020 British Championship was unable to go ahead.

My aim is always to take the strongest group of lifters to best represent Great Britain as a Powerlifting nation. I am only able to select lifters that that competed in the 2019 Junior British Championships or those who had been granted dispensation for these championships. However, I can appreciate that many lifters, especially being in the Sub-Junior and Junior age category may have made significant improvements on their total since the 2019 Junior British Championships. It therefore, doesn't make sense to ignore these and will be important to take this into consideration when trying to select the strongest team for the 2021 scheduled Internationals.

As such, if any Sub-Junior or Junior lifter that competed in the 2019 British Championships feels they have made significant progress and now have competitive totals to challenge for International selection, I will take a total set at any official British Powerlifting sanctioned Divisional competition into consideration for selection for the IPF 2021 Sub-Junior and Junior World Powerlifting Championships. There are several divisional competitions already in the calendar so I would prompt any lifters wanting to show their improvements to get signed up as quickly as possible.

Lifters will need to get clear videos of each 9 attempts and submit them to me via email to strengthcoach@jasoncoultman.com by Sunday 20th June 2021. No videos will be considered after this date. For avoidance of doubt, taking improvements into consideration will mean that Sub-Junior and Junior lifters who won or placed at the Junior British Championships 2019, may not be selected if a higher total is set by a lifter wishing to compete in the same weight class, who also competed at the 2019 National Championships, at a divisional competition within the next 10 weeks. I will also consider competitive totals from lifters who have outgrown their weight class and have moved up.

I will be looking into a potential squad session. But given the potential difficulties of restrictions and venues and the scarcity of time, this may not be viable.

As I hope you can all appreciate, this is a very unusual dilemma, and the above steps are being taken to best adhere to the selection criteria outlined by British Powerlifting, whilst exercising some flexibility and common sense given the difficult circumstances, to pick the strongest team and where possible, provide the opportunity for the most talented Junior lifters who have the potential to compete Internationally. Again, I unfortunately can't consider any Junior lifters who didn't compete in the 2019 British Championships, but be sure to enter this year's National Championships (currently scheduled for 20th October - 24th October 2021) if you wish to be considered for International selection in 2022 - many thanks Jason.

COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

These were due to be held in Auckland, New Zealand late this year, but are now postponed to 2022. This is because of likely travel restrictions into New Zealand.