Ferg’s Weightlifting Club had three of its members compete at the recent BC Masters Weightlifting Championships in Port Moody.
The club had Ray Kasten, Nic Braun and Norman Patterson take part in the Olympic-style weightlifting for athletes age 35 years and over.
They went up against athletes of all levels including the top lifters in the province.
The 69-year-old Kasten, from Qualicum Beach, competed in the men’s 65-89 age group and achieved good lifts in the snatch and clean and jerk events to end up earning the gold medal.
Going into the competition, Kasten said he was pumped and very motivated as he hoped to qualify for the World Masters.
He achieved his qualifying objective when he successfully cleared 54 kilograms in the snatch and 77 kilograms in the clean and jerk.
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The 49-year-old Braun had some good lifts but narrowly missed reaching the podium.
Patterson wasn’t able to finish the competition as he withdrew in the final days of the event.
The founder of Ferg’s Weightlifting Club, 89-year-old Ed Fergusson, did not take part this year and is looking to 2025.
Ferguson, Kasten and Braun all have milestone birthdays in 2025 that will open the door to setting more records. Ferguson is a Canadian record holder and past Masters World Weightlifting silver medallist. Kasten is a provincial record holder.
— NEWS Staff