ExCeL excites Kirkbride

Peter Kirkbride: Excited by ExCeL event

Peter Kirkbride admits weightlifting's Olympic test event at the ExCeL Centre last weekend has only served to heighten his excitement ahead of the Games next summer.

The Scot, silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year, achieved the Olympic qualifying B standard during the two-day 'London Prepares' programme which was designed as a scaled down trial run for 2012.

Shrugging off ankle and wrist injuries to compete, Kirkbride lifted 135kg in the snatch and 185kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a combined total of 320kg, placing ninth in the men's 94kg category.

"It was pure dead brilliant," said the 23-year-old. "It was a great experience, great to be part of the GB team having been plagued by injuries. Everybody in the team did amazing, it's great to be here.

"It's just a taste of what's to come, hopefully. We went to the Olympic Village and just to see it, it's awesome. It makes it that bit more real.

Qualification

"I didn't really want to miss out on the opportunity to be here at the test event, it's been absolutely amazing. Great facilities on the platforms, everything you've needed people have got you and everyone's been really friendly.

"Everyone's optimistic, it's just a taste of the hype that's yet to come."

Lifters have until the end of May to record two successful totals during competition at either the A or B standard of Olympic qualification.

Having achieved the 320kg B standard last Saturday, Kirkbride now has his sights set on the 339kg total which would put him in pole position for one of three possible men's places in Great Britain's weightlifting team.

"When I'm at 100% of my capability I shouldn't have a problem getting to the A standard as long as I'm training hard and stay injury free," he said.

"Hitting the A standard is the target now for selection and being in a great opportunity, to get there it's a dream."

Moving on

Kirkbride, from Kilmarnock, trains north of the border and not with the majority of British weightlifting athletes at their High Performance Centre in Leeds.

But he admits he faces a tough decision over what the future holds.

"I've got a good support network in Scotland so I'm quite happy where I am, I'm fortunate that I have got such a good support network," he said.

"Of course, it is great when I come down to Leeds also. I do want to get more involved with GB Weightlifting so I've got a window of opportunity, I can either grasp it or just let it slip from my hands.

"It's really up to me what I want to gain from everyone. I've got to speak about what's going to happen for my future."