Patterson sixth in weightlifting

Auckland weightlifter Pip Patterson finished sixth in the Commonwealth Games women’s 53kg weightlifting division today.

Patterson, 33, totalled 171kg, some distance behind the winner, Sanjita Khumukcham of India, who won with 192kg. The Indian is a class lifter – she was also a gold medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Patterson, who finished fifth in Glasgow, lifted 76kg in the snatch and 95kg in the clean and jerk. She had attempts at 73kg, 76kg and 76kg in the snatch, missing the second. In the clean and jerk she achieved all three of her lifts – 91kg, 93kg and 95kg.

There were 14 lifters in the 53kg division.

Patterson seemed relaxed and pleased with her performance, describing it as a “PBPB” – a post-baby personal best. She and husband Richie, a weightlifting Olympian, are obviously contemplating adding to their family and there is a suggestion this may have been her international swansong.

She felt the standard in the Gold Coast competition was higher than it was in Glasgow and was pleased to have finished where she did.