Rowan thrills home crowd by lifting top title

DEBUT: Pitlochry teen had targeted second

Pitlochry weightlifter Rowan MorroghBernard is celebrating her debut senior national title – just weeks after helping Scotland make history in the Celtic Nations Championships.

Morrogh-Bernard didn’t have far to travel, with the Scottish Senior Championships being held at her home club, and she gave the home crowd something to cheer about by winning the 58kg category.

Having lifted a total of 127kg in August’s British Junior and U23 Championships, Morrogh-Bernard continued her positive comeback from a wrist injury by going 5kg better in Pitlochry.

The 16-year-old snatched 57kg, before managing a clean and jerk of 75kg, to achieve a total weight of 132kg.

Morrogh-Bernard was understandably delighted with her achievement, but is still aiming for more in the near future.

“The champs went really well, it was fantastic,” said Morrogh-Bernard, who benefits from being part of the SSE Next Generation programme.

“I was pleased with what I lifted, it was better than recent weeks. I was aiming for 60kg in the snatch, though, but I failed at it twice.

“Then the 75kg in the clean and jerk is almost my best in competition, so I was really happy with that, and it was enough to get first.

“I can improve on my weights. It’s what I’m always working on, so it’s nice to get my first senior title.

“I wasn’t too confident of the 60kg. I haven’t really done it much in the gym recently because of injury recovery.

“My best in the gym is 63kg, but that was at the start of the year, before my wrist problem, so I’m only getting back to where I was at, now.”

Morrogh-Bernard admits that, ahead of the championships, she was happy to settle for the runner-up spot.

“Heading into the seniors I was aiming for second,” she said.

“I was feeling all right on the day. I was still suffering a bit from a cold, so my body weight was down a bit, but thankfully it was OK.”

The 2017 European and World Youth Championships remain the lifter’s long-term goals, but by creeping into the under-17 category next year, Morrogh-Bernard is conscious of her need to set records while she can.

A breakthrough in training this week means she may have one last competition left in her this year, with the sole aim of breaking the Scottish under-16 clean and jerk record.

“In the gym yesterday I did a big PB, an 80kg clean and jerk, which would be an under-16 record,” she added.

“So I might do the Scottish Masters, and compete as a guest, as it would be my last opportunity to lift it in a competition environment.”