St Margaret’s School Pupil Breaks Regional Record at British Powerlifting Championships

from Life Magazines (Hertfordshire editions) July 2023

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Alocal Hertfordshire pupil from St Margaret’s, an independent day and boarding school in Bushey, has lifted a regional record in weight for her age, coming fourth place in the UK having competed against hundreds of other young people in the Sub-Junior and Junior British Powerlifting Championships in Solihull recently. The championship ran across five days where pupil, Jodie Fox, competed in the sub-junior women’s 69kg class.

The event involved three different lifts in competitive powerlifting: the squat, bench and deadlift. Each athlete had to perform each lift three times, increasing the weight each time. The highest scoring attempt for each lift is added together to give a total score.

Jodie Fox, who is a sixth form student at St Margaret’s School explained, “My total in the British Championships was 310kg, which was a regional record. This was made up of my highest squat - 120kg, a regional record and personal best, bench - 55kg another personal best, and finally deadlift - 135kg, a regional record and another personal best for me.”

Jodie’s success saw her reach a closely fought battle for third place where she narrowly missed out by only 2.5kg, coming fourth in the country

“My total in the British Championships was 310kg, which was a regional record. This was made up of my highest squat - 120kg, a regional record and personal best, bench - 55kg another personal best, and finally deadlift - 135kg, a regional record and another personal best for me” for her age and weight class. Up until a year ago, Jodie who is currently in Year 13 at St Margaret’s School, had never even heard of powerlifting. She was introduced to it by her personal trainer, who noticed that she was unusually strong for her age. She has been powerlifting since April 2021 and she trains four times per week.

“I am already training hard for my next competition, which is the All-England Championships, to be held in Manchester in August this year. My goal for the All-England is to break more records, achieve more personal bests and place in the top three lifters, which would potentially open up the opportunity to perform at the Commonwealth Games next year,” said Jodie.

Camilla Powell, St Margaret’s Head of PE & Sport added, “At a time of adversity Jodie has shown great fortitude. Her application and determination accompanied by her willingness to succeed, has led her to qualify for the British Powerlifting Championships. She has moved mountains surpassing her own expectations and is a true inspiration to us all.”

Jodie is going to university in September and plans to join the university powerlifting team so she can keep making progress and someday become the strongest powerlifter in the UK. stmargarets-school.org.uk

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