Medals for GB at the Euro Junior and U23 Championships

Fraer Morrow won overall gold for Great Britain and Catrin Jones took home bronze as British Weight Lifting enjoyed a successful week at the European Junior and Under 23 Weightlifting Championships which took place in Rovaniemi, Finland, between 24 September – 03 October 2021.

Morrow clinched overall silver in the 2019 competition and went one better this time round by hitting six out of six lifts.

She snatched 80kg, 83kg and 85kg to take silver at the interval, finishing just one kilogram behind France’s Garance Rigaurd.

In the clean & jerk Morrow lifted 104kg, 106kg and 108kg to take gold and secure the overall title by one kilogram with a total of 193kg.

The result means that Morrow becomes the first British European U23 Champion since Sarah Davies achieved the same feat at Klaipeda, Lithuania in 2015.

Writing after the event on social media Morrow said: “It was a fight for the gold and I loved every second of this competition, especially getting to share the platform with Catrin Jones and Garance Rigaurd.”

Jones swept an impressive bronze across the board to round off a double podium for Great Britain.

The Welsh lifter snatched 82kg and then clean & jerked 104kg to secure another place on the podium with a total of 186kg.

Jones and Morrow’s efforts ensured that GB secured an impressive tally of two gold, one silver and three bronze medals in total.

There was also plenty of strong results from the rest of the British squad.  In the men’s U23 102kg competition Omar Keshta finished in fourth position overall and was just one kilogram away from a clean & jerk medal in an inspired display.

 He set three new British U23 records snatching 143kg and then clean & jerking 186kg for a total of 329kg.  

Speaking after the event on social media Keshta said:  “Couldn’t be more happier with myself!

“Wasn’t in the best physical nor mental state for the past few months but managed to hold it together and get through it!

“Had to cut weight and step in the sauna in the morning to make weight, which is something I’m not used to but again got through it and got it done.

“Big thanks to Stuart Martin & Dave Sawyer  for taking care of me and making sure I hold it together.

“Thank you for everyone that supported me.”

Jordan Sakkas came home in sixth in the men’s U23 109kg competition. He lifted 146kg in the snatch and 180kg in the clean & jerk for a combined score of 326kg.

Jacob Finnigan also took sixth spot in the men’s junior 73kg category. He snatched 118kg on his first lift and then lifted 154kg on his final clean and jerk attempt to battle hard and secure a total of 272kg.

Reflecting on the experience Finnigan said: “With every comp I always learn so much and I’m very much looking forward to building up to my next competition as I know I’ll be more prepared.”

 

Alice Aitchison placed a strong seventh in the women’s U23 71kg category. The Scottish lifter snatched 80kg and then clean & jerked 104kg to end the day with good 184kg on the board.

Chris Murray finished in the same position in the men’s U23 81kg category. He snatched 143kg and then clean & jerked 170kg for a respectable total of 319kg.

Jason Epton also competed in the same category as Murray, lifting in the earlier B session group he finished tenth overall.

Epton managed to hit five out of his six attempts going three from three in the snatch to finish on 132kg before lifting 163kg in the clean & jerk for a total of 295kg.

Michael Farmer finished a solid eighth place in the men’s U23 73kg competition.

He snatched a best effort of 131kg and clean & jerked 155kg for a total of 286kg to set new British and Welsh U23 records.

A results book from the competition is available to view here.

British Weight Lifting would like to congratulate all the athletes and coaches for their fantastic efforts.