Weightlifting: Kilwinning girl lifts gold

May 8 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

Nikki Hamilton

TEENAGE sensation Nikki Hamilton has made a fantastic return to winning ways after a lengthy absence from Kilwinning Olympic Weightlifting Club.

The 13-year-old only took up the sport again three months ago but she showed she had lost none of her sparkle with a brilliant gold medal-winning performance in the British Junior Open Weightlifting Championships at Alfreton, in Derbyshire, at the end of last month.

Although competing against much more experienced opponents Nikki, competing in the 48kg Class, lifted 51kg in the snatch and 61kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 113kg which broke the Scottish clean and jerk record, and also the total records at U14, U17, Junior and Senior plus the British U14, U17 and junior records for the snatch and total.

Joining Nikki on the gold medal trail was 16-year-old Dylan Scott who won gold on the 56kg Class with a snatch of 78g and a clean and jerk of 100kg for a total of 178kg, breaking the Scottish U17 clean and jerk record in the process.

Clubmate Jordan McCartney, 16, also travelled to Alfreton and came home with a bronze medal in the 94kg Class with a snatch of 84kg –a Scottish U17 and Junior record – and a clean and jerk of 93kg for a total of 177kg.

“All three did really well at the championships but Nikki’s performance was truly remarkable – especially after such long time away from the sport,” said club coach Bill Despard.

“She now holds all sorts of records at Scottish and British level and her achievements at Alfreton were recognised when she was invited join her team mate Dylan for specialist training with the World Weightlifting Olympic Squad.”

Nikki is next in action when she competes on the British U17 Championships at London’s Crystal Palace on Saturday.

And there was a further boost for the Kilwinning club when Dylan, who was competing for Scotland in the Small Nations Championships in Malta on Saturday, won the gold medal and prize for best youth lifter at the event.

Dylan, who lifted at the Commonwealth Games in India last year, has also been selected to represent Great Britain at the first World Youth Championships in Thailand this month.

“This is anther tremendous honour for Dylan and everyone at the club wishes him the best of luck,” added Bill.

Anyone wishing to join Kilwinning Olympic Weightlifting Club should call Bill on 01294 552893 or come along to training at Caledonia House, Longford Avenue, from 5pm-8pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.