SISTERS LIFT-OFF

Big success for Shire siblings

They are the Highland Perthshire sisters who are taking the Scottish weightlifting circuit by storm.

Hundreds of national records have been set between them but Holly and Rowan Morrogh Bernard are showing no sign of slowing down.

The Pitlochry Weightlifting Club members continue to progress under coach and secretary Alex Phillips.

He believes that hard work can push Holly (15) and Rowan (16) to the top of the sport, not only on a Scottish level, but potentially the world.

“It is not that unusual for siblings to take part in the same sport, but to have two sisters in weightlifting in Scotland be so successful is rare,” Phillips told the PA.

“Even more so as they have an 11-year-old sister Rosie who also competes in the development competitions.

“I knew that Rowan and Holly were good technical lifters and always achieved high technical points for their lifts in development competitions.

“But I had no idea that they would be as successful at Youth level as they have been, winning many Scottish and British competitions as well as setting almost 450 Scottish records between them.

“Over the next few years I would hope that they would both be competing at the British Seniors, which would

Rowan continues to make progress be a first for a Pitlochry lifter.

“Holly hopes to qualify for the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2019 assuming that there is weightlifting in it, as the games this year doesn’t have it.

“Looking further ahead for Rowan I’m sure she’ll be trying for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. At 15 years old Holly also still has two more years at Youth level which she would be trying for more European Youths.”

Holly won her first national senior title recently in the 90 kg class at the Scottish Senior Championships in Glasgow.

The Pitlochry High pupil was successful with all six of her lifts, which included personal bests of 64 kg in the snatch and 74 kg in clean and jerk for a 138 kg total.

Rowan was also in action and narrowly missed out on bronze in a highly competitive 58kg class. She snatched 54 kg and jerked 74 kg for a 128 kg total.

“They will both be training three times a week, two hours a day and working to a training schedule and buildup to their next competition which is the Scottish Youths at Pitlochry on May 27,” Phillips said.

“European qualification for Rowan (U17) is 138 kg - her best total this year is 129 kg. Holly (U15) needs 145kg and her current best is 138kg.

“They will have to improve a lot to achieve qualifying at European Junior and Senior level and the World qualifying level is even higher but I am sure they will give it their best shot.

“I really don’t know the secret of our recent success, some of it has to be put down to luck that there is a Weightlifting club in such a small town that is close to where Rowan and Holly live.

“At the moment the club is in a good place with currently six new lifters under 13 years of age training at the junior sessions on a Thursday.

“Hopefully they will be making their competitive debut at the Scottish Development Cup in Pitlochry on May 27.

Pitlochry Weightlifting training times are 4.30 to 6.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The junior session takes place on Thursday from 4.30 to 5.30pm.