Brits go to Malta - Part One

Every year the British classic team get better.  Last year in Sun City, we had our best ever performance with 4 Brits on the podium.  This year we have 10 or more that have that potential.

Ishtyaq Nabi will be our first lifter out.  He lifts in the 59s on the first day of competition.  Ishtyaq hold most of the British records in this class - only the squat record eludes him so far but he's closing the gap on that one too.  He's nominated in 6th place with a 568kg total but the field is tightly packed and just an extra 5kg on his total would see him in 3rd place so that big deadlift will come in very useful at the end.

On Day 2, current European Champion and squat world record holder, Bobbie Butters faces stiff competition in the 57kg class.  Her nomination of 470kg is a bit understated as she coasted a little at British nationals where this was set - for contrast, she put up 483kg to win at the Euros last year.  Jade Jacob of France made a spirited attempt at her squat WR at Sheffield and you have to expect that she will attempt it again here but hopefully Bobbie can push it out of range first.  Bobbie also faces Natalie Richards - a very well known face in US powerlifting but the first time we've seen her compete internationally so Bobbie has work to do here to make up any ground even without her team mate rival Joy in class. 

We have two Brits in class in an absolutely stacked 63kg class on Day 3.  Joy Nnamani is lifting internationally in this class for the first time and she faced off a few weeks ago with Melissa Hexter for the 63kg British title, winning only on bodyweight that day.  However, we saw something new from Joy at Sheffield - use of belt, knee sleeves and wrist wraps which got her a 5kg PB on her squat that day.  Will we see a continuation of this progression?  The kilos would come in handy as there are three incredible lifters nominated 40kg or more ahead - Carola Garra, Chiara Bernardi and, last year's world champion, Meghan Scanlon.  Hopefully the extra bodyweight that this class allows will give Joy a boost. Could she be hunting down Lya Bavoil's deadlift WR at 231kg? 

Melissa Hexter finally committed to the 63s last year after plateauing a little in the 57s.  She has capitalised nicely on this and is finally starting to fill out in this class.  She's also added nearly 50kg to her total in the process and is showing no sign of slowing down.   Melissa is the lightest woman in BP to bench 120kg+ so we have high hopes of a bench medal from her.