Powerlifting News.

You may have heard that the Great Britain Powerlifting Federation ("GBPF") has been formed, with a new website www.gbpf.org.uk. The British Weight Lifters' Association ("BWLA") will now focus on Olympic Weightlifting and the GBPF will handle Powerlifting, with the affiliation to the IPF & EPF already transferred to the GBPF, and with the National Governing Body status and the UK Sport Drug Testing in the process of being transferred.

In general, there should be very few differences that will affect your lifting. The rules and records carry over, and the general competition calendar will remain similar. However, you will need to join GBPF rather than BWLA for 2009, there is nothing to stop you joining both, but be aware that if you join BWLA, you will still need to join the GBPF to compete in Powerlifting competitions. Membership forms for the GBPF are available on the above website, and I will have them available at the Club in December, fees for 2009 are £35/year (£20/year for Sub-Juniors). Those running the new organisation will be officially voted in at the first Annual General Meeting (which I believe will provisionally be in March) by members.

John Halfacre

There is a new south east powerlifting website. www.gbpfsoutheast.co.uk where you will be able to find all the information that you currently find on this web site.