News
Year in review and World Championships,Pune,National Clubs, All Schools, Michael Keelan Shield, Australian Opens
Looking back on 2015
When I look back on 2015 its been a good year for the club with lots of new talented lifters joining and lots of new juniors, while more long term members have kept on improving. The committee and especially Jimmy, Tony and Erika have brought different skills that both Angie and myself do not possess to Cougars and its really helped improve the club spirit.
For me its great to see that a lot of club members get together outside the club to enjoy themselves and also have a lot of fun together while training - after all that's why we do it don't we?
Also there has been a lot more discussion on lifting on social media (thanks to Martin and Leo and others) and the internet in general which is great for the sport and its good to see the AWF is getting out Ma Wenhui, former Head Coach of the Chinese national women’s team to work with us in January.
2015 World Championships in Houston
It was a great honour to be selected as a coach for the Australian Team for the 2015 World Championships.
I really enjoyed being at the event from watching the great lifting to being in the training hall to coaching out the back it was a great experience and one I shall treasure for a long time.
The team performed very well with everybody getting some sort of PB and Jenna getting 6/6.
Tia did a PB snatch, CJ and total as a 58 and 4/6 lifts and had a good crack at 112 CJ and handled her 2nd major international very well
Commonwealth Championships Pune
Damo, James and Ryley lifted at this event
It was great to see James pip Aydan yet again and also Ryley do 5/6 in his first international
National Club Championships
Cougars winners of the National Club Championships
Ebony PB Snatch and Total by 2kg
Erin PB Total by 1kg
Harry PB Total by 4Kg
Jax PB Total by 3Kg
Guyan PB Snatch CJ and Total by 9Kg
And Damo 6/6 and his best total since the Games of 370Kg
All Schools Championship
St Lauries provided a great venue for the all schools and there was lots of good lifting and battles on the day
Alex Loft Pb Snatch, CJ and Total of 6Kg
Angus PB Snatch of 6Kg
Eamon PB Snatch CJ and Total of 22Kg
Harry PB Snatch CJ and Total of 4Kg and best U17 lifter
Jett PB Snatch Cj and Total of 4kg and best U15 lifter
Josh M PB snatch of 4Kg
Lincoln PB Snatch CJ and Total of 5kg
Matt PB snatch CJ and Total 11Kg
Michael PB Snatch CJ and Total of 11kg
Tashaun PB snatch CJ and Total of 6Kg
MK Shield
The MK results were combined with the Open results to deliver this years winners Ebony and James
The stand out performance was James Norman who did PB snatch of 5kg PB clean and jerk of 5Kg and PB total of 10Kg and A grade at 77 and qualified him to go to World Juniors in Georgia next year - I am glad I misunderstood what his PB snatch was in training :P
Alex Loft PB snatch PB CJ PB total 5kg
Celeste PB snatch PB clean and Jerk PB Total of 8Kg
Dan PB snatch PB CJ PB total 6Kg
Dave with some peer encouragement :) PB snatch PB CJ PB Total 12Kg
Eamon PB Snatch 2Kg
Lochlan PB Snatch PB CJ PB Total 6Kg
Paige PB Snatch PB CJ PB total 7Kg
Peter PB Snatch PB CJ PB total 9Kg
Quyen PB Snatch PB CJ PB Total 23Kg
Rowan PB Snatch PB CJ PB Total 6Kg
Stephen PB Snatch PB CJ PB Total 10Kg
Australian Opens
This event turned out to be much more fun than I thought it would be and its great to have another BW event on the calendar.
The stand out performance was from Tia who was due to start on 80Kg but missed 75kg 3-4 times in the warmup I took her down to 78, and then 76 having only been successful with 70Kg out the back but then she proceeded to get 76,80, and 83 for a new PB ! - on the Clean and Jerks she started on 102 4kg above her previous starter at 58Kg and then jumped 9kg to 111kg and got that lift to move her into number 1 ranking position for the Rio Olympics with 1 more event to go also a Qld CJ record of 111kg and Total Record of 194Kg at 58Kg. She then cleaned 113 and missed the Jerk behind. If anything demonstrates her toughness it is this competition.
Leanne PB Snatch CJ and Total 6kg 165kg at 69Kg and a swag of National masters records
Ebony PB Snatch PB CJ PB Total by 4kg - 180Kg 69
Erin PB Snatch PB CJ PB Total 2Kg - 167 Kg- 75
Jax PB CJ 7Kg 169Kg PB Total 4kg 299Kg
Guyan PB Snatch, CJ Total 2kg 218Kg at 69Kg
2015 Nationals
Qld Won both the Senior and Junior Team Female Shields and was in 2nd Place in both the Male Senior and Junior Team Shields
Erika (coached by Angie) won best Female and was the first Australian female to do a double bodyweight CJ of 106Kg and Leo Lark (coached by Craig) won best Junior Male
http://www.awf.com.au/resultsrankings/rptcompresults.aspx?compid=592
Mary Barter- National Senior Champion 48Kg - 1kg PB CJ and Total
James Norman - National Junior and Senior Champion 69kg - 2kg PB snatch 3kg PB total
Josh Mak 6th Junior 69Kg
Ashley Adams 9th 85Kg
Kris Corrie 10th 85Kg 2kg PB total
Ebony Gorincu - National Senior Silver Medalist 1kg PB Snatch
Nanda Stoltz - National Senior Bronze Medalist
Leanne Knox 5th - Masters 40-44 Snatch CJ and Total Records
Lydia Olsen - National Junior Champion 75Kg
Luke Gardner - National Senior Silver Medalist 94kg
Regan Hams - National Senior Bronze Medalist 105Kg 1kg PB CJ and Total
Damon Kelly - National Senior Champion 105+Kg and 2nd Best Overall lifter
Jackson Solofa 4th 105+ 2kg PB Snatch and Total
Video Interviews
Damon Kelly
James Norman
Mary Barter
Success
The majority of people tend to only see the fabulous outcome that a successful person has achieved throughout their life. These achievements blind us so that we often are not even aware of the huge efforts that were necessary to make these accomplishments possible.
The next time you see a successful person you could try to direct your focus to the necessary efforts that this person had to make in order to achieve his accomplishments. If you are willing to make similar commitments and efforts you have the chance to become as successful as them.
2015 Crossfit Games
Congratulations to Tia Clair Toomey, Shane and CoachRx on her second place at the Crossfit Games and Rookie of the Year and also the first Australian ever to get a podium finish
Listen to her interview about the games http://www.somethingrxd.com/podcasts/crossfit-games-athlete-tia-clair-toomey/
Should you wear lifting belts
This is from Physio/CrossFit Box Owner/Coach/Lifter - April King
“Should you wear lifting belts? Wrist wraps? Hand guards? Knee sleeves?
These are questions I am regularly asked by my CrossFit clients so I thought I would write a quick blurb about the first one (the weightlifting belt).
The short answer (in my opinion) is definitely yes but I'm sure you'll find others who don't agree. Nonetheless, here is what I think and why.
If you are squatting, pressing or deadlifting >80 to 85% of your 1RM you should consider putting on your belt because it will help to:
a) increase intra-abdominal pressure
b) support the lumbar spine in a compressive way
c) give feedback regarding your spinal posture during the lift.
The way I see it, at heavy weights, it makes sense to support your body in every way you can to minimise or reduce the risk of injury. But please note, wearing a weightlifting belt will not:
a) take over the job of your "core musculature", i.e. your deep spinal or deep abdominal muscles or
b) make you stronger
So putting on a belt does not mean that you can suddenly increase your weights and lift heavier. You actually have to get stronger to do that, because despite the advantages it might give you, it is not a guarantee against hurting yourself. “
Creatine
Some people are buying Creatine Hydrochloride, its a waste of money according to Dr Greg Haff, creatine monohydrate is a better product - you can calculate dosage on this page - http://www.qwa.org/Resources/Calculators.aspx
Harry - Commonwealth Youth Games
Congratulations to Harry on making the Australian Team for the Commonwealth Youth Games
Tia Crossfit Games
Great interview with Tia-Clair Toomey in WodLife
http://blog.thewodlife.com.au/crossfit-games-athlete-interview-tia-clair-toomey/
Tia-Clair Toomey will be competing at the Crossfit Games
The CrossFit Games will start at Hermosa Beach California on Wednesday, July 22 - You can watch on ESPN via Foxtel or the Crossfit Website
All the best to Tia and her Crossfit Coach CoachRx
Thanks Brisbane Barbell for the photo!
2015 Pacific Games
15 years ago I interviewed Mike Keelan one of Australia's best coaches and coach educators and asked him what he most enjoyed about being a coach and he said "Seeing the success of his athletes" - now at the time I did not really feel the same myself, it was not why I enjoyed being a coach.
But now as I warmed up Mary Barter at the Pacific Cup trying to hide from her the tears in my eyes from the emotion of just thinking how far she had come in now representing Australia at this event I really understood what he meant - and it was a great feeling !
Mary with here 4 Silver Medals in the 48
Tia-Clair Toomey with her 4 silver medals in the 58
Mitch with his very gutsy 125 snatch to secure Bronze
A special moment of the Games for me was chatting to Chief de Mission - Dual Olympic gold medalist - Malcolm Page
It was interesting to hear his journey in his sport and his views on improving the sport in Australia. - Malcolm's a unique
and special person and it was a privilege to meet him.
Australia won both overall Senior Team cups
The full results can be found here
http://www.oceaniaweightlifting.com/
Qld State Championships - a great 2 days of lifting
It was just a great State championships with lots of close battles and some awesome lifting !!
Maria Barter Gold 53 - PB Snatch and Total
Georgia Gaffney 58 Gold Junior Bronze Senior - PB Snatch, CJ and Total by 7kg
Tia-Clair Toomey Gold 63 - PB Snatch and Total
Leanne Knox Silver 63
Nanda Stoltz Gold 69 - PB Snatch, CJ and Total by 13kg
Ebony Gorincu Silver 69 - PB Snatch, CJ and Total by 4kg
Emma Zawila 69 Gold Junior Bronze Senior PB Snatch
Lydia Jayne Olsen Gold Junior 75 - PB Snatch, CJ and Total by 6kg
Lucy Graham Gold 75+
Best Junior Female - Georgia Gaffney
Harrison Gaffney Gold Junior
James Norman 69 Gold - PB CJ
Josh Mak 69 Silver Junior - PB CJ and Total by 3
Mitchell Delbridge 85 Silver
Shane Orr 85 Bronze PB CJ and Total by 6
Luke Gardner 94 Gold
Liam Hadfield Bronze 105 PB Snatch and Total by 3
Damon Kelly Gold 105+
Jackson Solofa Silver 105+ - PB Snatch, CJ and Total by 11kg
Best Senior Male - Damon Kelly
Full Results
http://www.awf.com.au/resultsrankings/rptcompresults.aspx?compid=648
Thank you Brisbane Barbell for the great photos !
