CRAYFORD-based Europa Weightlifting Club produced three British champions at the recent national championships at Crystal Palace.

The club is no stranger to success having produced two Team GB competitors at last year’s London Olympics, Zoe Smith and Jack Oliver.

And it looks as if the next generation of Europa youngsters could well go on to match those high standards judging by their success at the British championships earlier this month.

Liam Green, 15, triumphed in the 62kg category, an achievement matched by 17-year-olds Joe Brooker (77kg) category and Luke Livermore (94kg), who recorded the heaviest lift of the competition with a 128kg clean and jerk.

Under the guidance of experienced coaches Terry Tucker and Richard Hare, the first Europa to lift was 14-year-old Scoop Callard, son of Europa head coach Andrew Callard, in the 50kg category.

In a fierce competition in which he achieved personal best lifts in both snatch (49kg) and clean and jerk (64kg), Scoop had to settle for second place with a total of 113kg.

In his last lift he made a close attempt at 67kg which, if successful, would have given him the victory which in the end went to his rival Conor O’Rourke from the St Birinus Club based in Oxfordshire.

Although obviously disappointed, proud dad Andy said: “I was really pleased.

“He’d only ever lifted 60kg before, so 67kg was always going to be heavy but he gave it a real go.

“It was a great effort.”

Next on to the platform was 15-year-old Nathan To in the 56kg category, who also finished runner-up spot with a 139kg total.

Possibly as exciting as the club’s recent success at the contests was the chance for the boys to train at Europa later in the week with eight-time world strongest man competitor and two-time podium finisher Terry Hollands.

Hollands is brushing up on his weightlifting technique under the guidance of 2012 Olympic coach Andy Callard ahead of his push for the WSM title this year.

“I’m pleased to be learning from everyone here, young and old,” said Hollands.

“Hopefully some of the club’s success will rub off on me at WSM this year.”

For more information on Europa, or to join, email andrew@aecallard.co.uk

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