Novice division powers up
The Kaitaia Powerlifting Club ran its first novice competition at the KohatuFit gym in Kaitaia earlier this month.
The Novice 3-Lift and Bench Press Meet on Saturday, April 7, attracted 23 competitors — both new and experienced lifters — who were all aiming to qualify for the 2018 Northland championships in Kerikeri this Saturday.
Event spokeswoman Hine Lum noted eight Kaitaia locals — being herself, Pam Fisher, Chanelle Samson, Taari Murray, Ali Cosner, Samantha Thoumine, Dan Brockbank and Leon O’Connor — won the right to compete for provincial titles this weekend. They will feature in a field of 30-plus lifters seeking qualification for the nationals in Whangarei later this year.
Lum noted the meet was blessed to have such an experienced referee panel including Stan Hallmond (Whangarei), a category 2 ref, a rep on the national powerlifting executive committee and a man who has dedicated 35 years to the sport, Margaret Lindsay (Whangarei), a provincial ref and also a national executive committee rep, along with Kevin Barker (Kerikeri) and Anthony Warren (Kaikohe), both provincial refs.
Also in attendance to support the day was world champion Trish Muldrock from Kaikohe.
In other news, Kotahu Fit’s Ngahine and Anthony Lum along with Taari Murray completed and passed their New Zealand powerlifting provincial referees certificates on Sunday, April 8.