We are only into June - but it has already been quite a year for the SAW Cymru.

The Pembrokeshire Weightlifting Club has enjoyed stunning success  - with Chloe Hood selected as part of the Great Britain Youth squad in the first week of January. 

At the National Senior Weightlifting Championships Harry Thomas, a youth SAW Para athlete, gained a bronze medal and a PB bench of 63kg and Nathan, a senior Commonwealth Games athlete, won a gold medal with a PB of 141kg.

In the 58kg category, junior weightlifter Niamh Roach gained fifth in her first ever senior event. Daisy Melhuish performed extremely well won gold and the Welsh title. Junior lifter James Hart broke all of his personal bests to take the silver - and youth lifter Chloe Hood also broke competition PB’s to gain fourth place in her first senior event.

The team of disability Powerlifters and Weightlifters were supported by the clubs coaches Simon Roach and Jim Horner. 

In February, two younger club members competed in the Youth British Championships, held in Luton. Daniel Thomas (Under 17) and Seren Mitchell (Under 15) both won bronze medals. Pembrokeshire technical officials Stephen Donovan and year 13 STP student Alex John (one of the youngest) were key members of the British officiating team. 

Late March, the Commonwealth Games Weightlifting and Para powerlifting Team departed for Gold Coast. Leading the team was manager Simon Roach, attending his fifth games - and also on board was Pembrokeshire based James Horner, a Para Powerlifting coach at his first Games and Nathan Stephens, a previous Javelin Paralympic athlete and now Para Powerlifting athlete also at his first Games. Nathan competed exceptionally well following a 15 day preparation period with Team Wales at the Gold Coast.

April saw Stephen Donovan, International Technical Official made the fourth club member to depart from Pembrokeshire to the Commonwealth Games, selected by the International Weightlifting Federation, Stephen officiated at Gold Coast.

Strongman Rory Brown has also announced that he is organising a Strongman contest in Pembrokeshire later on in the year.

Weightlifting Wales also selected two SAW youth members to compete for their Country in Austria. 12 year old Daniel Davies and 14 year old Seren Mitchell were selected for this development event. 

Justin Head organised a fantastic Inter-club Weightlifting event in Haverfordwest for clubs. overall, 24 lifters from Pembrokeshire competed.

For further information please contact Simon Roach at info@strengthacademy.wales.