Raising the bar!

Matthew Byers to compete in a British weightlifting competition

The Council’s Matthew Byers is raising the bar when it comes to weightlifting.

The 30-year-old OIC Swimming Pools Team Leader is heading to the Glasgow City Barbell in Clydebank to compete in one of the British Open Series virtual competitions.

Matthew had been left disappointed after an invite by Weightlifting Scotland to take part in selections for the Commonwealth Games squad trials and the annual Commonwealth Championships this weekend was cancelled due to Covid concerns elsewhere.

However, as he has been training hard and doesn’t want to waste the preparation work he has done, Matthew is still heading away for the Clydebank weightlifting club event.

Matthew, who is in the Team Scotland training squad, said: “I only got word this week that the competition is off – part of which was going to be selection for the Commonwealth squad but also for the Commonwealth Championships (which runs every year, as opposed to the Games which is every four years) due to Cvoid concerns elsewhere. It has knocked the wind out of my sails but as I am well prepared so I am heading to one of the British Open competitions. If I can get some official results on the board, it’s always a huge help.”

Matthew actually qualified for the British Championships earlier this year, but surgery meant he was unable to take part.

“I’ve come back from a bit of a lay off after a minor surgery and I think the time off has done me good. The past year has been the hardest I’ve ever trained, so I know I’ve put the work in.

“I try to keep an even keel in the run up to competitions, and normally do stuff to take my mind off it, then on the day of the competition is when I kind of flick that switch and turn it on. If you get too worked up too early, then you just get mentally exhausted. Come the morning of the competition is when I’ll be feeling the nerves.”

Matthew started going to the gym as a teenager and began weightlifting in 2015. His passion for the sport progressed quickly and alongside a few other enthusiasts, in 2018 they set up the Orkney Amateur Weightlifting Club.

“Weightlifting Scotland is the sports’ governing body in Scotland, when I started lifting competitively there was no club in Orkney, I’d just been practicing on my own. I messaged Weightlifting Scotland saying that I’d like to compete, but I had no idea how to, so coaches from other clubs helped me out in my first few competitions. All of the other clubs have been really supportive and want to see the sport develop across the whole of Scotland.

“At the Club we now offer weightlifting coaching to junior and senior weightlifters. We have other members who are also competing at competitions on the mainland, as well as a couple of others who are involved in Team Scotland junior squads. In 2020 I was chosen to be a part of the Team Scotland senior squad, so we meet up for training camps a few times a year, and teams for competitions are selected from that squad. I also do technical officiating duties for Weightlifting Scotland too.”

Matthew is used to competing on the national stage.

“I’ve taken part in a plethora of Scottish competitions; winning the North District Championships a few times; I was Scottish Champion in 2019 (something I hope to retain in 2021) and have won a number of other Scottish Open competitions. I’ve broke into British level competition in 2020, qualifying for the British Championships earlier this year but was unable to attend due to having the surgery. Through lockdown I was lucky to have a place to train (in a friend’s garage) and was able to compete in a number of virtual competitions. My best snatch is 130kg, and my best clean and jerk is 155kg. However, my best total at competition is 275kg.”

He feels ready to take his weightlifting a step further now.

“I would like to take it to the Commonwealth Games, but that needs to happen soon before I’m getting too old. I would like to go to British Championships over the coming years and reach a top three finish in the UK at some point.

“I have a few specific lifetime goals on numbers I would like to lift, and if I reach them then I suppose anything else (selection for events) is a bonus. Unfortunately, in the UK, weightlifting is a fully amateur sport and doesn’t receive much government funding, even then the only funding opportunities are for team GB athletes, and I can’t see myself reaching that level. So, the chances of going professional are next to none. However, given team GB’s recent success at the Olympics (silver medal for Emily Campbell) there may be a silver lining and a bit more support for athletes.”

He focuses on a fairly strict physical training programme which includes keeping a close check on his diet and lifestyle.

“I really enjoy the process of it all, my training is planned out quite meticulously- it’s not just a case of going in and lifting heavier and heavier weights over time. You get to know when things are going to be tough, you feel really fatigued and weaker, but you know that once things taper off, you’ll feel almost superhuman - if you can time that well and I’m at my best at a competition it’s a great feeling. I also really enjoy the social side of it, a lot of my close friends have been made whilst sharing bars, putting the world to rights inbetween sets.

“I train five times a week and on my two days off I always take part in some type of recovery activity which involves stretching, foam rolling and things like that, and I’ll try to get out for a good walk or a swim a couple of times a week too.”

Matthew gets through around 4,000 kcal a day – but he is filling his body with the sustenance it needs by using wholefoods, meat, vegetables, fruit, potatoes, rice, milk – all the ingredients your grandparents encouraged you to eat!

“I don’t bother with any protein supplements, if I can get my nutrition from ‘real’ foods then it’s generally more cost effective and comes with the benefit of vitamins, minerals and all of the good stuff contained within whole foods. That being said I am partial to a coffee and cake or a good pizza. The other big thing that I focus on, is sleep. I’m always sure to get at least 8 hours sleep, sometimes more if I’m really tired. Training takes it out of you, and sleep is where your body replenishes itself and recovers so it’s absolutely essential for any athlete.”

Attending competitions outwith Orkney is a costly business so Matthew is appealing for anyone who may be interested in sponsorship of any kind to get in touch.

“I really appreciate the support I have had from my sport and leisure managers and colleagues and now a lot of folk in the community have been stopping to ask me about it over the past week as news is spreading.”

Could you help Matthew with sponsorship? Please let us know and we will pass on your details.