The British Junior (Under 20) Weightlifting Championships

I woke up feeling OK (considering it was 4am!), and so happy that my emergency sports massage the evening before had sorted out my hamstring injury which I had obtained through fencing! 

We left Lewes at 5am(!!) and arrived at Lilleshall national sports centre at 9am. I then had to weigh in: 64.6kg which put me in the 63-69kg category with 2 other girls. 

The warm up went OK, so I started on 45kg snatch, which went fine. Then 48kg which I failed - it was too far forward and I almost threw it off the platform! So I took 48kg again and got it. 

Then I started the clean and jerk on 57kg, which was fine. Then 60kg which the judges said I failed, but looked fine to everyone else!! So I took 60kg again and got it. 

So I ended up with a total of 108kg, which put me in second place. I was a little disappointed, as I was only 5kg off winning, which I could have done if I hadn't failed two lifts. I was annoyed because the total which the girl who won had put on her entry form was 80kg, which is significantly less than she actually had, which fooled me into thinking I stood a chance of winning in the 69kg bodyweight category. If I had known the truth I would have gone in the 63kg category, and won it!!

Even so, it was a good day. I overcame a lot of the fears I had last time, thanks to reading Steve Backley's book. I also came home with a MASSIVE silver cup (see picture above).

Zoe Smith was there, even though she wasn't competing, and she filmed my lifts (well, actually, she missed half of them!) which you can see on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/zoraphina