British Weight Lifting competitions are organised across four tiers, creating opportunities for athletes of all ages, abilities and experience levels.

Tier 1: British Championships

Tier 1 competitions represent the highest level of domestic competition in the UK.

All British Championships fall within this tier and are delivered directly by British Weight Lifting. Athletes must achieve the relevant qualification standards at eligible competitions before they can compete.

Tier 1 events bring together the country’s leading weightlifters and para powerlifters to compete for British titles.

Tier 2: Home Nation Championships

Tier 2 competitions are organised by the Home Nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

These championships hold equal status across the UK and provide national-level competition opportunities for athletes within each Home Nation. Most Tier 2 events require athletes to achieve qualification standards before entering.

Tier 3: Club Competitions

Tier 3 competitions form the backbone of the BWL competition calendar.

Any BWL Club can apply to host a Tier 3 competition.

All Tier 3 events operate under the same minimum competition standards, ensuring a consistent and professional experience for athletes across the UK.

Tier 3 competitions:

• Provide valuable platform experience
• Create official ranking results
• Offer qualification opportunities for Tier 1 and Tier 2 events
• Welcome both novice and experienced athletes

Tier 4: Hybrid Events

Tier 4 competitions offer a flexible and accessible way to engage more people in lifting.

These events can be hosted by affiliated clubs, partner gyms and partner schools. They often feature alternative strength exercises and weightlifting derivatives and are designed to appeal to a wider audience, including those new to the sport.

British Weight Lifting membership is not required to participate in Tier 4 events.

Why Host a Tier 3 Competition?

Tier 3 competitions play a vital role in the development of weightlifting across the UK.

By hosting a competition, you can:

• Support local athletes and provide valuable competition experience
• Create opportunities for athletes to achieve qualification totals
• Develop volunteers, coaches and technical officials
• Raise funds through competition entries
• Strengthen your local weightlifting community
• Increase awareness of your club and its activities

For many clubs, a successful Tier 3 event becomes a regular fixture in the competition calendar and a valuable tool for member recruitment and retention.

How to Host a Tier 3 Competition

Our Club Guide: How to Host a Competition provides a detailed step-by-step guide to organising a competition.

Topics covered include:

• Tier 3 Event Checklist
• Venue Requirements
• Equipment Requirements
• Risk Assessments
• Safeguarding Requirements
• Anti-Doping Liaison Responsibilities
• Recruiting Technical Officials, Loaders and Volunteers
• Managing Entries
• Competition Day Operations
• Results Processing
• Stripe Account Setup in Sport:80
• Event Registration in Sport:80
• Results Processing through Sport:80

Additional Resources

To help you plan and deliver a successful event, we recommend reviewing the following resources:

• Risk Assessment Template
• Technical Official Duty Rota Template
• Tier 3 Terms and Conditions
• Safeguarding Guidance

Ready to Organise a Competition?

If you’re ready to host a Tier 3 competition, you can begin the registration process today.

Register your competition

Need Support?

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, or have a question about organising a competition, our team is here to help.

📧 competitions@bwl.sport

We look forward to helping you deliver your next competition.