Zorba's hopes boosted
Weightlifter Halil Zorba achieved the Olympic qualifying B standard at the English Championships on Saturday.
By Emma Bird
Last Updated: 20/02/12 11:10am
Weightlifter Halil Zorba broke the British senior clean and jerk record - achieving the Olympic qualifying B standard - at the English Championships on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who trains at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre under coach Keith Morgan, lifted 171kg to beat Andrew Goswell's 14-year-old record by 1kg in the 77kg bodyweight category.
Together with a snatch of 120kg, the London lifter attained the Olympic B standard at the Oldbury College of Sport near Birmingham, giving his hopes of competing in this summer's London Games a boost.
The English Championships also saw Ryan Baugh, from Ivybridge Weightlifting Club, snatch 79kg to set a new British Under-15 record by 1kg in the 62kg category.
Winners
London's Emily Godley was the best female lifter, as she also achieved the Olympic qualifying B standard with a total of 182kg in the 63kg class.
The 22-year-old, who like Zorba trains at Crystal Palace with Keith Morgan, snatched 81kg and lifted 101kg in the clean and jerk.
Joanne Calvino, another Crystal Palace lifter, won the 48kg class with a 60kg snatch and 83kg clean and jerk to total 143kg.
Other winners included St Mary's Adam Mattiuss who totalled 233kg in the 69kg class, and Joanne McManus from Crossfit Manchester who topped the 53kg class with 113kg.
Fiona Jenkinson, a St Mary's lifter, won the 58kg class with a total of 140kg, while Empire WLC's Sonny Webster won the 85kg class with 286kg.
Another St Mary's athlete, Emily Cushion, won the 69kg class with 140kg, while her club-mate Lisa Price was crowned 75kg champion with 110kg.
Oldbury's Sophie Beasley won the over 75kg class with 112kg, Vasyl Kruk (Brunel) won the 94kg class with 286kg and Justin Oro-Campus of St Mary's won the 105kg class with 270kg.
