Weightlifting: Open Championship-Five records set season rolling |04 April 2011

This first competition produced five records and the record breakers were Katsia Télémaque (48kg category) and Janet Georges (+75kg division). Four-time Sportswoman of the Year Georges also finished as the best female lifter, while the men’s title went to Charles Siméon.

Last year’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist in India in the 69kg category with an Olympic total of 216kg (100kg in snatch and 116kg in clean & jerk), Georges weighed 75.5kg going into Saturday Open Championship and had to compete in the 75+kg division where she got three records. The 33-year-old improved her previous snatch best of 85kg with lifts of 86kg and 90kg in her first two attempts before failing at 95kg.

In the clean & jerk, she heaved the bar at 111kg in her second try to add 1kg to her old best of 110kg, although she could not get 115kg over her head in her third and final attempt.

Georges’ Olympic total of 201kg is 6kg better than her previous best of 195kg set on November 27 last year.

“It’s always nice to break a Seychelles record and I’ve done even better by getting three,” a beaming Georges told Sports Nation.

“I concentrated on applying the techniques today (Saturday) and I’m satisfied with my performance and the three records,” added Georges, who got R750 for winning the 75+kg category, R1,500 and dinner for two at Le Canton Chinese Restaurant, Beau Vallon Bay after being chosen as the best female lifter.

After missing out on improving her snatch best of 66kg when she failed her third attempt at 70kg, Télémaque proved that she is in good form with a record lift in the clean & jerk event of the 48kg category.

Unchallenged in her category, she easily lifted 75kg in her first attempt before asking for the bar to be loaded at 81kg for a record attempt. She was successful this time to add 1kg to her old clean & jerk best, bringing it to 81kg and at the same time improving her Olympic total to 146kg from 145kg.

“I’m happy I got a record, but not totally satisfied with my performance. I knew I would beat the snatch record if my coach had not stopped me from asking for 67kg to be placed in the bar for my third attempt,” said the 22-year-old who won R750 for winning her division.

Like Télémaque, Charles Siméon had no opponent and for him it was more a question of staying focused on what he had to do.

With a best lift of 125 in the snatch event, Siméon failed his second clean & jerk attempt at 165kg after he had already lifted 155kg in the first. With his record standing at 167kg, he decided to have a go at it with 169kg in the bar, but was unsuccessful.

“It’s all about setting my goals and achieving them. I’m looking forward to win big at the eighth Indian Ocean Island Games,” said best lifter Siméon, who received R1,500 and dinner for two at Le Canton Chinese Restaurant.

Minister Meriton asked the group of young and experienced lifters to continue showing determination to win more gold medals during the 8th IOIG in Seychelles than the 19 snatched in Madagascar in 2007.
He also told them new equipment is expected in the country by mid-April to help boost their training ahead of the Games.

The minister reminded everyone that they should always think of Clementina Agricole who is back in India for a check-up after she was operated on to remove a brain tumour at the G. B. Pant Hospital in Delhi last year.

National Sports Council chief executive Alain Volcère and Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) secretary general Alain Alcindor also presented the prizes.

The following are the complete results:
Katsia Télémaque 48kg (146kg in total, 65kg snatch and 81kg clean & jerk);
Julie Matatiken 53kg (130kg in total, 60kg snatch and 70kg clean & jerk);
Ramona Bacco 53kg (80kg in total, 35kg snatch and 45kg clean & jerk);
Ruby Malvina 58kg (150kg in total, 65kg snatch and 85kg clean & jerk);
Rena Agricole 63kg (118kg in total, 53kg snatch and 65kg clean-and-jerk);
Farah Dogley 63kg (115kg in total, 50kg snatch and 65kg clean & jerk);
Janet Thélermont 75+kg (201kg in total, 90kg snatch and 111kg clean & jerk);
Dolly Emile 75+kg (115kg in total, 50kg snatch and 65kg clean & jerk);
Jelissa Julie 75+kg (108kg in total, 45kg snatch and 63kg clean & jerk);
Rick Confiance 56kg (147kg in total, 65kg snatch and 82kg clean & jerk);
Ian Rose 62kg (220kg in total, 100kg snatch and 120kg clean & jerk);
Darille Riaze 62kg (140kg in total, 60kg snatch and 80kg clean & jerk);
Angelo Servina 69kg (155kg in total, 75kg snatch and 80kg clean & jerk);
Dereck Gomme 69kg (130kg in total, 60kg snatch and 70kg clean & jerk);
Charles Siméon 77kg (280kg in total, 125kg snatch and 155kg clean & jerk);
Sirous Farabeau 85kg (165kg in total, 75kg snatch and 90kg clean & jerk);
Terrence Dixie 94kg (260kg in total, 120kg snatch and 140kg clean & jerk);
Steven Baccus 105kg (290kg in total, 130kg snatch and 160kg clean & jerk);
Elvis Jeanne 105kg (260kg in total, 120kg snatch and 140kg clean & jerk);
Elvis Siméon 105+kg (270kg in total, 125kg snatch and 145kg clean & jerk);
Frank Accouche 105+kg (231kg in total, 100kg snatch and 131kg clean & jerk);
Robert Kilindo 105+kg (120kg in total, 120kg snatch and failed all three clean & jerk attempts).

G. G.