Growing Interest in Global Sport for All Ages

MEDIA RELEASE 4 FEBRUARY 2012

Growing Interest in Global Sport for All Ages - Power Lifting

Steve Lousich and his wife Tania Pitt- Guthrie are usually flying half way around the world to compete in the sport they love, power lifting, but for today’s competition at the Masters Games the couple only had to travel from their home in Ashburton to Dunedin to compete.

Steve is the President of the New Zealand Power Lifting Federation and holds the New Zealand Bench Press record in the 120kg class. Tania Pitt- Guthrie has just turned 40 and qualified for her first Masters Games in power lifting in the under 63kg class. Both are qualified international referees for the sport which has taken them to world championships as competitors and as referees in Slovakia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and to both Miami and Palm Springs in the USA. Steve has a haul of medals from world champs while Tania has nudged the medal dias with three 4th placings in the Bench Press. The couple are now preparing for the World Masters Power Lifting Championship in Texas later this year.

Steve says that there is growing interest in the sport in New Zealand and there could be a national team of 12 competitors heading to Texas this year.

Also preparing for the World Masters in Texas is Sylvia Clarkson from Dunedin. Three years ago at 62 years of age Sylvia Clarkson wanted to strengthen her back following a back injury. So she took up power lifting. Now aged 65yrs she holds National records in the M3 class (60+yr) for the Squat (102.5 kg), the Bench Press (55 kg) and the Dead Lift (120 kg). Sylvia says the sport is very beneficial for women as it can help prevent osteoporosis.

Adrian Caffles from Dunedin is another newcomer to the sport. Adrian first introduced power lifting to his 14 year old son who has a disability. In 8 months his son went from lifting 20 kg to lifting 80 kg in the Dead Lift. Adrian says the exercise really lifted his son’s fitness level and improved his body shape but the unexpected bonus was his own interest in the sport which led him to competing at the Masters Games today. Adrian was more than pleased with his performance putting in two personal bests in the M2 class (50yrs+) for the Squat (120kg) and the Dead Lift (155kg).

Amanda Young from Dunedin in the M1 grade (40+) impressed today with personal bests in the Squat (105kg), Bench Press (77.5kg) and the Dead Lift (140kg). According to the power lifting fraternity at the Games Amanda is certainly a talent to watch.

The eldest competitors today were 75 yr old Bruce Park from Balclutha who started power lifting in 2008 and who has competed overseas and Russell Miller (76yr) from Invercargill.

NZ MASTERS GAMES 2012

Dunedin

February 4 - 12

www.nzmg.com
ends

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