Medal magic down under

Nov 14 2002 By Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

WEIGHTLIFTING: VETERAN Ellesmere Port weightlifter Gwilym Parry's 12,000-mile trip to Melbourne was well worthwhile for he returned from Down Under with a bronze medal from the World Masters Games.

With more than 30,000 competitors, the games, for athletes aged over 35, are the world's largest multi-sports event, and 71-year-old Gwilym was competing for the first time.

He made the most of his long journey by turning the trip into a holiday and staying in Australia for five weeks.

Finishing behind a Russian and Canadian on the rostrum, Gwilym had to lift a new personal best total of 105 kg to claim the bronze.

He said: 'I was really surprised to do so well but I'm very happy with my performance.

'When I secured third place in Greece last year I put it down to the Americans not being present, but there was a very strong field this time out and there were about 500 weightlifters from across the globe taking part.'

Gwilym, who runs the OWLS (Oasis Weightlifting Squad) at the Oasis Youth Centre in Ellesmere Port, also travels to Manchester once a week for training.

Despite being up against the pick of the world's best weightlifters, he had to go head-to-head with one of his Manchester team-mates, Les Green, to win his bronze medal.

Gwilym said: 'I travelled down with four of the lads from Manchester.

'Les and myself both finished on totals of 105kg. I did 45 on the snatch and he lifted 50 but I got 60 on the jerk while he could only manage 55.

'He did have another jerk attempt of 57.5 but didn't make it.

'We had both lifted the same total but I finished ahead because I weigh 75kg which is just one kilogram less than him.'

After taking up weightlifting in his teens, Gwilym gave it up for more than 30 years to pursue other sporting interests and only returned to the gym in his late 50s.

Even now, he still considers himself more of a golfer than a weightlifter and plays regularly at Vicars Cross.

Gwilym said: 'If you don't pick up injuries you can continue to do weightlifting for as long as you like.

'I don't push myself too hard in the gym and always train within myself because I know that if I pick up a muscle strain then I won't be able to get on the golf course!'