Forward January 2019 | Page 27

SPORT Brothers lifting above their weight Brothers Rourke and Lachlan Turton are both seasoned weightlifters, competing on a regular basis in local and state competitions. At the 2018 U15 & Youth State Championships, Rourke competed in the 77kg weight category and obtained two personal bests, with an 80kg snatch and a 100kg clean & jerk, and a total of 180kg, which won him the youth silver medal. Lachlan competed in the 46kg weight category obtaining two personal bests, with a 33kg snatch and a 45kg clean & jerk, breaking his own state record. He had a total of 78kg, winning gold in the under-15 46kg weight category and gold in the youth 46kg weight category. As a result of their efforts, both Rourke and Lachlan were invited to be on the WA State U/15 and Youth Weightlifting team to compete at the Nationals in July, competing in three WA State team squad training sessions prior to the event. won the bronze medal for Australia, which contributed to Australia winning the youth male team trophy. In the last week of Term 2, Rourke was called up at short notice for the Oceania Australian Youth Male team. The AWF asked him to fly to Noumea, New Caledonia, and represent Australia in the 85kg body weight category. On Friday 29 June he not only managed to successfully get an 82kg snatch and 93kg clean and jerk on the board, thereby earning points for the team, but he also The 2018 AWF National U/15 & Youth Weightlifting Competition was held at Guildford Grammar School on 7 and 8 July 2018. Lachlan competed in the 50kg bodyweight category representing WA, and with a snatch of 36kg and a clean & jerk of 47Kg, he achieved fourth place. Rourke competed in the 85kg bodyweight category representing WA, and with a snatch of 86kg and a clean & jerk of 100kg, he won the bronze medal for WA. Rourke competed again on Sunday 15 July in the State Senior & Junior Weightlifting Championships in the 85kg bodyweight category, and with an 80kg snatch and a 100kg clean & jerk he won the gold medal in the junior section. As a result, he was selected to be in the junior state team bound for Brisbane in early September, but chose to decline the offer on advice from his coach. The Oceania 2018 Youth, Junior and Senior Australian team. 27