After nine months out following surgery, Leeds-based Jason Irving lifted 175kg to win the 67.5kg group and was best lifter on AH points, ahead of India's Rajinder Singh Raheula who won the 75kg class with a lift of 160kg.

"It's just such a relief to be back," said Irving after his performance.

"I am really pleased with my run out today, and it gives me a solid platform to build on for London 2012."

Meanwhile, Northampton's Anthony Peddle won the 52kg category and was third with a best lift of 137.5kg, but may be disappointed only to have got one good lift in.

Natalie Blake from Newark was best female lifter with 95kg, and only narrowly missed out on 100kg.

Second spot went to GB team-mate Zoe Newson who was winner of the 40kg category and only three points behind Blake.

Newson attempted to break her own junior European record with a lift of 86kg.

Although she was unsuccessful on this occasion, she was best junior lifter on AH points.

"Natalie has worked really hard on her technique in the last six months and that really showed today," said British Weight Lifting Performance Manager Fiona Lothian.

"We saw a significantly different lifter than we saw out in the Worlds in Malaysia last summer."

Other highlights from the event included a European junior record for Melaica Tuinfort of The Netherlands, who lifted 107.5kg on her second attempt at the weight and finished third on AH Ranking.

Best male junior overall was Nathaniel Wilding with a new personal best of 117.5kg in the 67.5kg category.


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