A CLYDEBANK weightlifting group is hoping to achieve national success at the upcoming British Championships.

Glasgow City Barrell Club is sending ten competitors to the event in Birmingham at the start of July.

Over 160 athletes will compete at the championships across ten different weight categories.

And Matthew Byers, 32, a member of the group, opened up on the prestigious nature of the upcoming event.

"We are sending more [competitors] than any other club to the British Championships," he said.

"It was a tough qualification process. There are rankings across different weight classes and you had to finish in either the top five or the top ten to qualify for the competition depending on your category.

"It is the biggest competition in the UK so even getting to go is an achievement.

"Last time I qualified for the British Championships I ended up getting injured so I had to pull out so for me I am happy to be going this time."

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Glasgow City Barrell Club is based out of a unit on Glasgow Road.

It originally started in Scotstoun in 2011 before moving to Clydebank in 2018.

The group was founded by John McEwan, head coach of not just the club but also Scotland's national weightlifting team.

"Our previous best, in terms of sending competitors to the British Championships, was five people but we now have ten," the 58-year-old said. 

"A lot of these competitors have been training for ten years, even though they are only 20 themselves.

"I am fortunate to work with a great group of guys. Standards are high and everyone puts in maximum effort. 

"I am hopeful some of the competitors will make the next Commonwealth Games in 2026."

John also opened up on the pathway that the club has created for those who want to pursue weightlifting.

"We have been running for 13 years and it has been great to see our competitors grow as people during that time period," he added.

"We have a couple of boys in their early 20s who have been training with us for over ten years and we have some ten-year-olds at the moment who are at the start of their journey.

"We also have some competitors in their 40s and 50s who are competing at masters level.

"We have a pathway right through as we take people in at all different levels and we have some excellent coaches who work underneath me.

"It is hard work but the lifters enjoy it."