16 / 20
16 SPORT / CO-CURRICULAR
Yoma Takes Powerlifting Title
Dami Ogundiya, U4N
On Sunday 23 September Upper
Sixth Former Yoma travelled to
Northampton to compete at
the Junior British Powerlifting
Championships. Having qualified
earlier in the year, at her first ever
competition, it was unclear how she
would fare against the best juniors
in the country.
Yoma had built a good base of strength by
attending Strength and Conditioning sessions
at Bancroft’s and she made quick progress
under guidance from Arram Eghoyan, our
S&C Coach and a former World Champion
himself. After a year’s regular training,
Yoma competed in her first Powerlifting
competition in which she qualified for the
Junior British Championships. Her build up to
the British was not ideal. Without access to
the school gym over the summer, Yoma had
been out of regular training! Upon returning
to school, Yoma had just three weeks to
prepare herself. She turned up to every
session, did exactly what she was told to do
by her coach, and went to the competition as
prepared as possible.
It soon became clear that there were two
main contenders for the U18 title, and it
was going to be close! Yoma had a great
start in the Squat, her best event, breaking
the U18 British record on both her 2nd and
3rd attempts, finishing with 142.5kg, the
new British record. The Bench Press was the
second event, not Yoma’s favourite but her
confidence was boosted by some fantastic
lifts in the warm up area and Arram upped
her starting weight from 50kg to 55.5kg
(another British record). After this, the lead
in the Bench Press went back and forth
between the top two contenders, with both
of them breaking the record in their 2nd lifts.
On her 3rd lift Yoma attempted a massive
65kg, which unfortunately was declared
a “No Lift”. The Bench Press record had
escaped Yoma’s grasp.
Going into the Deadlift, Yoma was in the
lead and needed to stay within 20kg of her
opposition, a proven deadlifter, to take
Gold. It was clear that the competition was
going to go down to the wire. After watching
her opponent break the British record on
the Deadlift with 150.5kg, Yoma stepped
up and convincingly lifted 145kg, a new
personal best, and put Gold out of reach for
everyone else.
The high standard of competition was
demonstrated by the number of records
broken. Yoma’s total of 347.5kg is the
heaviest ever weight lifted in British
Powerlifting by a girl in her age/weight
class. Arram Eghoyan believes “we have
just scratched the surface of Yoma’s
strength potential.” With a career in
medicine in her sights, her studies will
always be Yoma’s priority, but she plans to
continue Powerlifting throughout school
and university; she may even smash a few
more records along the way! Yoma said,
“I was really excited for the competition
and it was a huge achievement to break
two GB U18 powerlifting records as well as
win the competition overall despite some
tough competition.”
CCF Review
Cadet CSM Ben Harris, Head of Army
Section 2017-2018.
The past year in CCF has been
an action-packed one. All year
groups from L4 to U6 were very
busy in their roles, whether that
be learning the basic drills in the
classroom or leading platoon
attacks in the field.
Our annual Remembrance
Day parade went very well,
with every cadet playing a
part in the School’s act of
remembrance. This year the
occasion was well informed
by our trip to northern France
to visit World War II sites
such as Omaha Beach and
Pegasus Bridge, something
that proved hard-hitting and
poignant for all. Army Camp
in Folkestone was the highlight of
the year for many, with all cadets competing
in the annual Dan Clack Competition. The
eight stands that made up the contest called
upon the cadets’ leadership, teamwork and
individual skills and knowledge. This year
it was the mighty RSM-to-be Martin Prusa
who led his section to success.
All in all, the year wrapped up what has
been a massive and fun-filled part of my
Bancroft’s career. I was proud to be able to
have a leadership role in the Army Section.
Although I am sad to leave, I am grateful
for the things that being in the CCF has
taught me and for the memories that it has
given me.