Following 2 extended training camps over the summer at the World Class Lifting High Performance Centre in Leeds, the Great Britain Youth team has now moved out to Eilat, Israel ahead of the competition which starts on Tuesday.

The time spent at the HPC has ranged from 20 days for the more experienced athletes to 3 days for those athletes selected for the team who are not WCL Programme.  At the training camps the athletes had the opportunity to learn from the senior athletes in the squad, receive technical coaching from Tamas Feher, practical nutritional support and physio support.  At both camps the athletes stayed in self-catering accommodation and were responsible for feeding themselves under guidance from Martin MacDonald the WCL nutritionist.  They also had their hydration levels monitored to ensure that they were not training when dehydrated and to help with making weight strategies.

The Championships are being held at the Magic Sunset Resort, the Israeli Weightlifting Federation has not held back on the preparation and the standard of the hotel, food and competition are of the highest quality.  As I am sitting writing this report in the hotel foyer there is an air of excitement as teams from throughout Europe arrive.

The training platforms are located on a covered tennis court and for some of the GB athletes it was their first experience of training outside.  They coped extremely well and all completed their set training programmes.

Hannah Powell, Dylan Scott and Shamsher Shergill now have a rest day before they compete on Tuesday, they all are well prepared and looking forward to a successful Championship. Results will be posted on the WCL website when available.