Weightlifter Dave Venables is looking forward to the world championships after securing a silver medal in the Europeans.

The Langdon Hills athlete was in the medals at Bordeaux at the weekend after he lifted 275kg in the snatch, clean and jerk.

And Venable's silver was one of four the British team won which, together with a pair of bronzes, gave them fifth place overall at the competition in France.

Now he is taking a breather before gearing himself up for the world championships in Savannah, Georgia, in September.

"I'm looking forward to competing in America because normally the European is the harder of the two," said Venables.

"Weightlifters who come in the top three in the Europeans have always come away with a world title because not all the eastern Europeans travel out to America."

Published Thursday, May 29, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo