Powerlifting: Manx competitors bound for world championships

Hampton and Skillicorn heading to South Africa later this month

Two powerlifters from the Isle of Man will face off against some of the world's top talent in the sport later this month.

Lily-Jo Hampton and Thomas Skillicorn are set to contest the 2026 IPF World Juniors and Sub-Juniors Classic Championships in Sun City, South Africa from 18-29 August.

Hampton is due to take part in the women's 69kg sub-junior section along with five other athletes.

Meanwhile, Skillicorn will participate in the men's 93kg junior class in a busy section featuring 22 competitors in total.

More generally, there's been a number of successful appearances for Isle of Man powerlifting competitors in recent weeks and months.

Elsewhere, Freya Weldon took a third-placed finish in the 84+kg women's sub-junior competition whilst representing Great Britain at the European Women's Classic Bench Press Championship event in Lithuania earlier this month

That came after also claiming a third-placed finish in the same discipline at the World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships, also for Team GB, in Poland back in May.

Outside of that, upcoming Island star, Alfie Bezance took top spot in his class at the same meeting in Poland representing Great Britain in the 105kg men's sub-junior event before going on to represent the Isle of Man in para powerlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in late July.