Girls’ Grand Prix medals are a big lift for Cube Fit
WEIGHTLIFTING
THEY may have come up just short at SW19 - but Newcastle did its best to back the Wimbledon challenge of British No.1s Johanna Konta and Andy Murray after taking part in a nationwide tennis programme.
Murray and Konta may have crashed out in the quarter-final and semi-final stages but it did not stop the action in Newcastle at the Jaguar David Lloyd Takeover.
The scheme – run over the weekend – is a new initiative to encourage children and families to lead active, healthier lifestyles through tennis.
Jaguar activated their partnership with David Lloyd Clubs to provide free access to the club and coaching for its customers.
Newcastle-based David Lloyd Clubs General Manager Mark Sylvester said: “There is nothing we love more than seeing people dust off their racquets and take to the courts after years away from the game.
“The club was buzzing all day with children and adults alike rediscovering their love of the sport at our free coaching sessions.
“With free tennis, strawberries and cream and heaps of other fun going on, this event proved to be a huge success.
“We would like to thank our friends from Jaguar for partnering with us it certainly got everyone get into the spirit of Wimbledon!”
The focus of the day was on the provision of free coaching for families centred around responsivenessthemed drills.
Alongside the free tennis coaching, CUBE Fit Olympic Weightlifting Club has weighed in with medals at its first international competition.
Members of the North Shields-based club travelled to Nagold in the Black Forest, Germany, to complete in the 14th International Women’s Weightlifting Grand Prix.
Katelyn Pinkney (12), Crystal Coyle (11) and Meredith Barwick-Plant (12) joined coaches Josh Mosavi and Tina Shaw at the prestigious event.
The youngsters competed against girls from 18 other nations, which was a record for the annual competition - which also had a total of 89 lifters in action.
The Cube Fit team brought home a gold, silver and bronze medal together with second and third places in the overall under-13 event.
First to compete was Shaw who recorded a 37kg snatch and 55kg clean and jerk with a SinclairMelzer score of 130.34, making it on to the podium with a bronze medal.
It was then the turn of the three youngsters to compete, with Coyle and Pinkney in the under-13 category.
After a nervous start, Coyle achieved a 28kg snatch and 39kg clean and jerk with a score of 92.75 to secure her silver. David Lloyd Clubs also provided 100 free family day passes - while to bring the theme of responsiveness to life a Batak light reaction machine was made available.
As part of the Batak competition, all participants nationwide over the age of 18 were entered into a draw to win Wimbledon men’s final tickets, while a highest score winner for each club, adult and child won a Wimbledon goodie bag.
Scott Dicken, Marketing Director of Jaguar Land Rover UK said: “The Jaguar David Lloyd Takeover is an extension of our Wimbledon and David Lloyd Clubs partnerships.
“By providing free tennis coaching, and access to David Lloyd Clubs, this new initiative aims to encourage children and families to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle through tennis.”
Pinkney, determined to secure a personal best at the competition, finished with a 41kg snatch and 65kg clean and jerk and a score of 121.93 to clinch a gold medal.
Barwick-Plant managed a 22kg snatch and 35kg clean and jerk and a score of 93.5 to finish a creditable sixth.
Both Pinkney and Barwick-Plant received additional awards for being second and third overall winners at under-13 girls’ level.
Mosavi said: “I am very proud of how far these girls have come and look forward to coaching them in future competitions.”
Cube Fit has enjoyed previous success at the British Weightlifting Youth Championships, where four of its lifters became national champions.
Club members are now venturing further afield to gain success internationally.