PRIDE Performance Gym have a new British weightlifting champion in their ranks.
Fifteen-year-old David Smith now has his sights on European competition having won gold at the British Weightlifting Age Group Championships.
The Great Sankey High School student lifted personal bests of 91kg in the snatch and a 115kg clean and jerk to finish 37kg clear of his nearest rival in the under 15s 102kg+ weight category.
He will now look to qualify for next year’s European Youth Weightlifting Championships.
Also targeting the continent is fellow Pride Performance lifter Elli McEvatt, 13, as she won bronze despite competing against older athletes.
McEvatt was the youngest in the under 15s under 55kg category and lifted 55kg in the snatch and 66kg in the clean and jerk – both personal bests.
Elli McEvatt, centre
Matthew Tonge completed the club’s representation – the 16-year-old Priestley College won silver in the under 17s under 61kgs competition and will now aim for gold in February’s English Championships.
Matthew Tonge, centre
All three are coached by Heather Flannery and Andrew Griffiths at the gym on Old Liverpool Road.
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