Valkries dominate at Winterlift

Valkries Melody Ogletree set new Ontario record lifts last weekend. Photo submitted.

SARNIA, ON - The annual Ontario Weightlifting Association’s Winterlift contest was staged Saturday at St. Patrick’s Secondary School in Sarnia. This contest, being one of the final qualifiers for the upcoming provincials, featured a large roster of lifters, including nine members of the Norsemen/Valkyries squad.

Out of the six weight divisions contested the Valkyries had 4 gold medalists. The winners included Melissa Ladouceur at 48 kilos, Melody Ogletree at 53, Kayla Turner at 63 and Allison Loyst at +75. The other team member, Shawna Perkins lifting in just her second contest, was fourth in the 58 kilo class.

Melody Ogletree had an outstanding competition, not only winning first place in her category, but setting three new Ontario records in the process. Ogletee, broke Sophie Robitaille’s 10 year old record of 57.5 kilos in the snatch. Indeed, Melody did it twice; she hoisted 58 kilos on her second attempt, and 60 kilos on her third try. In the clean and jerk Ogletree broke the record of 77 kilos, one that she set last November, by succeeding with 78. By the final tally Ogletree broke her own provincial total record by 7 kilos. Her old mark was 131 and the new record is 138.

Following a long hiatus, former Canadian champion, Melissa Ladouceur, returned to the platform and easily won the 48 kilo division. She posted best lifts of 50 in the snatch and 62 in the clean and jerk. Meanwhile, Kayla Turner dominated the 63 kilo class with best lifts of 72 in the snatch and 80 in the clean and jerk. Turner, a Laurentian University Physical Education student, is working toward a spot on Canada’s team going to the International Weightlifting Federation’s World University Championship, being held in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, in July.

Allison Loyst was the gold medal winner in the +75 division and was also awarded the best junior female trophy. Loyst, a 17 year old St. Joseph- Scollard Hall student, made all of her six attempts and finished with best marks of 60 in the snatch and 75 in the clean and jerk.

In the men’s competition, Glenn Ogletree led of for the Norsemen with a second place finish in the tough 77 kilo class. Ogletree made 102 in the snatch and 132 in the clean and jerk to finish with a total of 134. The winner in the 77’s, Craig Vandeweigh of the Toronto Weightlifting Club, totaled 137 via 105 and 132.

In the 85 kilo class the Norsemen had two entrants. Logan Baker, just 16 years of age, made 105 and 132, to grab the bronze medal. Close behind, in 4th place was Jesse Burman. Burman made all personal records, registering 95 in the snatch and 122 in the clean and jerk.

The final local competitor was A.J. Wendover. Wendover, lifting in the +105 kilos or unlimited class, put up his best numbers ever. A.J. snatched 127 kilos and clean and jerked 161, for a 288 total. The clean and jerk and total marks are new Norsemen club records. Wendover won the silver medal behind the nine- time Canadian Champion, Akos Sandor from the Sabaria team of Mississauga.

The top formula male lifter of the contest was Buck Ramsay. Ramsay, a graduate of West Ferris Secondary School and a former Norsemen, easily outpaced the field at 94 kilos. He snatched 140 and clean and jerked 177 and won a gold medal for the team from the University of Toronto at Mississauga. Should Ramsay continue on his winning ways he should be a lock for a spot on the 2010 Commonwealth Games team.

The Norsemen and Valkyries are gearing up for the Ontario Senior Championships, slated for Scarborough in late March. To date the local club has qualified the most lifters of any team in the province; with eight females and nine males having matched or surpassed the standard in their respective weight classes. The club is hoping to win back the provincial pennant which went to the Variety Village team last year. North Bay won the title in the four previous years 2005-2008.

Submitted to BayToday.ca