One of the best things about BUCS is the wide range of sports it covers. Moreover, it offers those who train hard throughout the year an opportunity to showcase their hard work at a national championship. It would be easy for the organisation to focus on well-known sports, such as rugby, football, and hockey. However, I for one am glad that this is not the case. Especially when the approach adopted by BUCS allows such physically demanding sports such as weightlifting the attention it deserves. The inclusion of para powerlifting demonstrates further the inclusivity offered by university sport. It also shows how the variety of sports covered by BUCS is growing all the time. The 2022 BUCS Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting Championships will only be the second time such an event for university students is held.
If you have not seen weightlifting or powerlifting before, I strongly urge you to do so. One of my greatest memories of the London 2012 Olympics was sitting on the sofa for the best part of five hours, glued to the weightlifting final. The pure strength of the competitors is something to behold, with this sport certainly up there with the pinnacle of human performance. After training all year, the time has come for the athletes to go for gold. Freshered has all the key information ahead of the championships, to make sure you’re clued up before the competition begins.
Location and Date
It is off to the Big Smoke for the student weightlifters and powerlifters, with the event taking place in Twickenham. More specifically, to the world-class Sports Village at St Mary’s University, which is location on Waldegrave Road, TW1 4SX. The second BUCS Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting Championships will be concluded in a day, with all the events taking place on Tuesday 12 April.
How many events are taking place?
Throughout the day, there are a total of 14 different categories taking place, including eight for men, and six for women. The first event to take place will be the Women’s 45kg, 49kg, and 55kg lifts, with the weigh in taking place at 7:00am. Arguably, the best event is saved for last, with the Men’s 102kg, 109kg, and the 109+ kg lifts starting at 6:20pm, with the conclusion expected to be around 7:30pm. You can check out all the timings for the events throughout the day through this link. Please note, all start and finish times are subject to change on the day of the championships.
How will the competition be scored?
Although there has been no offical word on the event guide for this year’s championships, it is highly unlikely that the scoring system would have changed from last year’s event. According the British Weightlifting site, this was scored through the AH (Haleczko) points formula.
What is the AH (Haleczko) points formula?
I bet you and me had the same question, as I also have to admit to have never hearing of this points formula before. However, following a bit of research, it turns out one of the main reasons this one in particular is used is because ‘it takes into account a para powerlifter’s body weight.’ The formula is ‘applied to each competitors best lift, and produces a final points score to determine the placings.’ This allows athletes of different sizes to be fairly compared.
How many people are competing?
Over 120 competitors will be hoping that their performance will prove enough to see their university earn the all important BUCS points. This indicates the increase of popularity in the competition, with the inaugural championships in 2021 seeing 70 student athletes.
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