New Zealand Powerlifting Federation Masters National Powerlifting Championships 2025, JetPark Hotel, Kirikiriroa

If last years Nationals post deserved to start with pain, this one deserves to be started with pleasure.

The body survived the entire prep, with only a few little aches, and even after the drive up to Hamilton from Palmy, the body felt reasonable.

I left around 10ish, and then travelled up behind Maunga Ruapehu, which was a wonderful drive.  Couldn't see the mountain but stopped at the Tangiwai memorial just out of Waiuru.

Arrived to the venue around 4, and checked my scales against the competition scales.  Then went to my friends and had dinner, and an early night. 

Had a great sleep, up, and weighing a little heavy.  Travelled out to the venue, hopped on the scales, which was on the money.  Was 14th in line for weigh in, so started the gear check, weighed in at 119.45kg. Three other M2 120s weighed in as well.  

Was lifting in the second flight.  So went for a walk, and then started warming up.  The first flight was small, so it moved fairly briskly.  Warm up felt ok, not too stiff, got a depth check which was on the money.  So moved out to the competition area, sat waiting for attempts.

Squat

1st: 225kg.  Three white lights.  A bit wobbly.

2nd. 242.5kg.  Three white lights.  Comfortable and solid.

3rd. 250kg.  Three white lights, a bit more work.  New WCPA M2 Squat Record.  

Likely had a few more kg here but not confident in my capacity.  Its the first meet, after a long offseason, so likely have a few more kg here.  

Bench

1st: 175kg.  Three white lights.  Easy.  

2nd: 182.5kg.  Three white lights.  Easy.

3rd: 187.5kg.  Three white lights.  Strong finish, new WCPA M1 and M2 Bench Record.  

The spotter lost his contacts right as I was walking out for my last attempt.  Can almost pick up me saying "good luck" to him.  190 was there.  Possibly 192.5 - harder to tell on bench as it drops off from fast to nothing in a flash.  Moved really well though.  

Deadlift

1st: 265kg.  Three white lights.  Didn't feel the best but moved well.

2nd.  284kg.  Three white lights.  Moved well, new NZPF and WCPA M2 Deadlift, and Total Records.

3rd: 290kg.  Reds.  Picked it up, hard work, dropped it at the top. 

The last deadlift was for the entire package.  Trying for a 9/9 day.  Trying to rebreak the NZPF/WCPA M2 Deadlift and Total records.  Trying to break the WCPA M1 Deadlift record.  Trying to break the WCPA M1 Total record.

The weight was perfectly chosen.  The lift was hard, a little knee wobble, and almost to lockout when I felt my hands open.  Only the second time it has happened, the first being the last week of heavy work.  So close but so far.

So I ended the day in first place out of four people.

Targets for this meet were:
1. Hit Squat PR (>245kg)
2. Bench OK (>180kg)
3. Hit Deadlift PR (>283kg)
4. Hit National Record Deadlift (>283kg)
5. Hit new WCPA M2 Squat Record (>245kg)
6. Hit >290kg deadlift
7. Hit new WCPA M1 Deadlift Record (>285kg)
8. Hit new WCPA M2 Total Record (>705.5kg)
9. Hit new National M2 Total Record (>705.5kg)
10. Hit New WCPA M1 Total Record (>725kg)
Stretch goal. Hit new WCPA M1/M2 Bench Record (>185.5kg)

Obviously some of them were combo goals.  But had a solid hit rate.  8/11 and within grasp of 11.  

Was 7th overall Master, running off age adjusted IPF points.  I think I hit the heaviest ever M2 total.  Not by much, but 1.5kg counts.  

Very pleased.

Have applied for the Oceania Regional Powerlifting Championships as my next meet.  I have a few adjustments to make to the programming to fix a few variables.  But excited to represent New Zealand, and maybe snag a couple of Oceania Records.