Stronger Futures Cup: Lifting Together for a Stronger Tomorrow
In the heart of Southeast Queensland’s weightlifting community, a new force for growth, collaboration and friendly rivalry has emerged: the Stronger Futures Cup.
More than just a competition, the Cup represents a shared commitment between clubs and lifters to build a stronger future for our sport — one lift, one rep, and one round at a time.
This annual inter-club competition is proudly brought to life through the collective efforts of:
- Southside Weightlifting Club Inc.
- Body Express Barbell Club Inc.
- Rebels Weightlifting Club Inc.
Together, these three clubs have created a platform that not only showcases talent but actively nurtures it — fostering inter-club collaboration, encouraging individual growth, and strengthening the fabric of our weightlifting community.
🔁 Competition Format: Three Rounds, One Goal
The Stronger Futures Cup runs across three rounds held throughout the year, aligning with the QWA Club Challenge series. Each round features one team from each club.
- 4 lifters with a maximum of 2 males.
🧮 How the Points Stack Up
Scoring is based on the Sinclair formula, tallying each team’s combined total. But that’s just the beginning.
Bonus points add excitement and reward performance:
- Personal Bests: +25 points each (Snatch, Clean & Jerk, Total)
- Perfect Lift Days (6 for 6): +50 points
- Team Lift Success Rate ≥80%: +100 points
Points accumulate over all three rounds, with the club scoring highest overall crowned Stronger Futures Cup Champion.
🏋️♀️ Who Can Compete?
To maintain fairness and integrity, all lifters must:
- Be current members of the club they represent
- Hold an active QWA membership
- Meet division age requirements as of December 31 that year
🎽 The Competition Day
Each round is hosted by one of the clubs, rotating annually. Sessions are structured to include 5–12 participants, with flexibility around gender and weight class to ensure smooth scheduling and community feel.
Highlights include:
- Standard IWF rules
- 2-hour weigh-ins
- 3 attempts per lift
- Mixed-gender and mixed-weight sessions encouraged
- Tie-breakers based on Sinclair total, lift success rate, and number of PBs
🏆 Awards That Matter
While the perpetual Stronger Futures Cup goes to the winning club, the Cup also celebrates individual excellence and community spirit:
- Best Male & Female Lifter (highest Sinclair totals)
- Most Improved Lifter (largest Sinclair jump across rounds)
- Volunteer of the Year (most sessions volunteered)
🤝 Powered by Community
This Cup is about more than medals — it’s about ownership and collaboration.
The Stronger Futures Cup Committee (SFCC) oversees the event, made up of one representative per club. The committee is responsible for:
- Rule enforcement
- Sponsorship and funding coordination
- Appeals and dispute resolution
- Event improvement and planning
The SFCC also forms subcommittees as needed for tasks like sponsorship, logistics, and marketing. Final decisions rest with the committee — ensuring transparency and collective leadership.
💬 After the Final Whistle
Each year, the SFCC conducts a comprehensive review, gathering feedback from athletes, coaches, and officials to make sure the Cup evolves with the community’s needs. Proposed changes are voted on and applied the following season.
📢 Join the Movement
The Stronger Futures Cup is a symbol of what can be achieved when clubs work with each other — not just against each other. It’s about healthy competition, shared goals, and building something bigger than ourselves.
Whether you're a lifter, coach, volunteer or supporter, your involvement contributes to the future of weightlifting in Queensland. Let’s lift — together.