The University of Aberdeen's female powerlifters are now the best in Britain following a record-breaking performance at the Scottish Universities and Colleges Championship.
The competition, held at the Ardler Complex in Dundee, saw Aberdeen University Weightlifting Club (AUWC) claim top spot for the second year running and retain its status as the strongest in Scotland.
Alice Hogg won Best Female Lifter, breaking the Scottish Junior records for the 57kg class in squat and total, and the Scottish Open deadlift record with a 153kg pull.
She was closely followed by Molly Gray who claimed Silver, while Nina Lepaus won the 63kg class breaking the Scottish Junior deadlift and total records at 155kg and 310kg.
With Eve Fordyce and Jen Newton claiming Gold and Bronze in the 72kg and 63kg classes respectively, AUWC’s Girls team took the title of Scotland’s strongest University female team, while the Boys team came third with a performance that included Jonny Wardell claiming Gold in the 105kg class with the heaviest deadlift of the day at 275kg, and Pete Tolmie claiming Silver. In addition Mike Smith and incoming AUWC President James Zhou claimed Bronze in the 74kg and 93kg classes respectively.
The Girls team’s exploits mean that they are now officially ranked top in Britain, ahead of Cambridge and Loughborough Universities, and they have been selected to represent Great Britain at the International Powerlifting Federation World University Cup in Minsk, Belarus in July.
AUWC President Alice Hogg, who is currently the British Junior champion and a European Bronze medallist, said:
“To be ranked top in Britain and to be selected to represent our country in international competition is a huge achievement for the Girls team, and the fact that we did this while helping AUWC to overall victory in the Scottish Championships for the second consecutive year makes the achievement all the more memorable.
“The Boys team also performed magnificently at the Championships, and as well as helping spur the team to an overall victory they are now ranked 5th in Britain, the highest of all Scottish Universities.
“AUWC is one of the University’s fastest growing sports clubs and the largest of its size in Scotland, boasting 70 members. The Championship was not only a huge success for the AUWC but also for Scottish powerlifting, and I’m proud of everyone who helped the team to victory in Dundee.”