The origins of the Northern Ireland Powerlifting Federation (NIPF) started life in the late 1970s and originated from the Beechmount Health Club on the Falls Road, Belfast. Back then the Northern Ireland Amateur Weightlifting Association (NIAWLA) was the NI division of the British Amateur Weightlifting Association (BAWLA). The sports of Weightlifting and Powerlifting were organised and managed by the same governing body, and there were multiple crossover lifters who participated in both. In addition “dual competitions” consisting of the 5 key lifts (snatch, clean and jerk, squat, benchpress and deadlift) were contested yearly in Beechmount. During this time the powerhouse clubs were largely Belfast based with Beechmount leading the way.

In the 1990s with the advent of professional sports it was decided to drop the amateur status of the sports so both became NIWLA and BWLA respectively. Also during this time the tensions started to grow between the sports of Weightlifting and Powerlifting in the UK as funding was linked to Olympic status, although counting memberships there were significantly more powerlifters. During this time the majority of the powerhouse clubs and lifters came from mid-Ulster as the Cookstown, Maghera and Upperlands gyms really started to shine. There was also a very strong contingent from Enniskillen who hosted the Ulster Champs regularly. In Ballymoney there was a small but dedicated group of elite lifters who competed at NI, Irish Team and British levels….we still have members from that team competing.

In the mid-2000s there came a split where the IPF recognised Powerlifting group stepped away from BWLA and became its own entity: Great Britain Powerlifting Federation. NIWLA did the same in Northern Ireland. Para-Olympic Benchpress has been formerly recognised as a ParaOlympic sport and so remained with BWLA. Special Olympics was recognised and managed by the IPF.

By the late 2000s powerlifting lifter membership and competition attendance had dwindled. The last NIWLA competition was held in Enniskillen and have less than 25 lifters. NIWLA and Scottish Powerlifting had left GBPF due to concerns in direction and management. It was clear powerlifting in NI needed a refresh.

In 2011 a small and dedicated team held a competition in the new Beechmount Health Club gym, attended by 24 lifters. An AGM was held immediately after that and was attended by 11 people. It was a beginning and from that discussion it was decided that powerlifting should remain as a sport in NI. NIWLA was rebranded to the Northern Ireland Powerlifting Federation and the NIPF as you know it today was born.

During the next few years the sport of powerlifting showed exponential growth in NI. The Leadership in NIPF was focussed on “the lifters experience” and continued to push the boundaries on competition venues and standards. The NIPF and British Powerlifting leadership teams re-joined and shortly after Scotland did the same to once again have a truly Great Britain Powerlifting Federation.

The NIPF moved to centralise powerlifting competition in Valley Leisure Centre Newtownabbey, creating a dedicated powerlifting suite known as Viking Barbell. Here NIPF members could access international level calibrated equipment to train with at any time. Another innovation which lead to furthering lifter experience and expertise that translated to the platform.

In 2015 the NIPF supported the beginning of the Irish Powerlifting Federation by providing equipment and helping host the Inaugural Irish Championships in the Valley Leisure Centre in Belfast. From then on NI lifters emerged and began to shine at British and Irish levels, many earning the right to represent their country on an International stage. 

Continuing to innovate, the NIPF worked with the IrishPF to create a joint membership allowing NI lifters access to British and Irish nationals. Due to administrative difficulties and complex environments the process lasted only a few years…it was simply ahead of its time. In 2020 the NIPF reverted to being a British Powerlifting only division, although thankfully strong links remain in promoting and supporting powerlifting with the IrishPF.

And so we move into the next chapter of NI Powerlifting and the NIPF begins to build long term partnerships with gyms to create Centres of Powerlifting Excellence across NI. We will continue to put the lifting experience at the forefront of all that we do. 

We look forward to meeting you on the platform!