Wrexham Glyndwr lecturer qualifies for British Powerlifting championships

A university lecturer has successfully qualifyed to compete in this year’s British Powerlifting championships. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Dr Chelsea Batty, Senior Lecturer in Applied Sport, Health and Exercise Physiology at Wrexham Glyndwr, competed in the APBU/BPU British Powerlifting Qualifiers held in Nottingham – her first competition in more than seven years. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In the lead-up to the event, Chelsea was contemplating pulling out after suffering from a bout of flu but thankfully made a swift recovery ahead of the competition. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking after qualifying, Chelsea said: “I feel so proud of myself – especially after being bedridden for a good number of weeks before the competition, I was close to cancelling as I didn’t think I’d be up to it but thankfully started to feel better and after a few sessions in the gym, I felt confident I would do well and I’m so glad I did. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Taking part in the British Championships will be an amazing experience – those who are successful then go onto qualifying for Europe and then worldwide, I personally don’t think I’m at that level – but it’s the experience of competing nationally alone that I’m excited about.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ahead of the British championships taking place in July, Chelsea is now looking ahead to the coming months and her strict training regime. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Currently I train five days a week for two to three hours at a time, which is intense and it will certainly heighten as the competition gets closer but I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself,” she said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Ultimately it’s about the experience for me – and to have qualified is a huge achievement in itself, I’m absolutely thrilled.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Dr Sarah Dubberley, Principal Lead within the department at WGU, added: “A huge congratulations to Chelsea for her incredible achievement in qualifying for this year’s British Powerlifting championships. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“All of us at the university, both staff and students, are hugely proud of her and will be eagerly cheering her on in July.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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