Our Nationals will be open, like all 100% RAW Nationals are cross the World, though to claim the National title one must reach a class 1 total within that National competition (Tean,Junior and Master lifters must reach a lower classification stated in the classification chart). This slightly differs from the IPF in that they want the lifters to hit their classification total before their Nationals (thus there Nationals are not open).
The IPF can ask for classification qualiftying totals to be had at the provincials before their Nationals because they have provincial bodies in every province in Canada. Because our federation is new to Canada, we do not have provincials set up in every province. Thus asking for a specific class total to be had as a qualifying total to come to our Nationals is not possible.
Another reason for keeping our Nationals open is that we do not want to bar any competitors. Several raw lifters come from other federations who wish to try their hand at raw lifting. We realize they may not have any raw totals to use as qualifying totals as raw meets in Canada are limited.
Most lifters come from the IPF which does not have raw meets. Understanding this, we have chosen to keep our Nationals open to all competitors.
The Nationals are run like any meet, with winners awarded with trophies. However, only those winners who also meet the required class total within the Nationals will be recognized as Canadian National Champions.
The precedence is set by federations before us that a National Champion will lift atleast a class 1 total in the open (and a lower classification total for teen, junior and master). That is to ensure a quality Champion. Previous Federations ensured this by making it a requirement to lift a specific class total before letting the lifter even lift in the Nationals. That way their National Champion in the open division will have at the minimum a class 1 total (and a minim class for teen, junior and master as well). Or, there would not be any Champion in the division at all.
We also have the same minimum class requirement, but we will not bar any lifter from attempting this within the Nationals itself. Any lifter can compete at the Nationals.
With fewer lifters and fewer meets, this seems the fairest practise, while still maintaining a credible Championship quality.
For further questions about our federation contact us!
