Weightlifter Kirkbride ready for Games

Weightlifter Peter Kirkbride may be a Commonwealth Games silver medallist but he knows the Olympic Games are a different prospect.

The 24-year-old, from Kilmarnock, came second in Delhi two years ago with a total lift of 333kg, although the leading lifters in Saturday's men's 94kg are likely to be pushing over the 400kg mark.

That represents a huge gap although Kirkbride, who competes in Saturday afternoon's B group, will be aiming to do himself justice.

"You're up against the best in the world at the Olympics, this is no 'Mickey Mouse' competition," he said.

"It's the biggest competition in the world and not just for myself but the full GB weightlifting team as well."

Kirkbride is the final lifter in Team GB's five-strong squad to take to the stage at ExCeL and he will be hoping to replicate the performances of his team-mates, who have saved some of the best lifts of their careers for London 2012.

Zoe Smith, who also took a British senior record, set a new personal best total to finish 12th, as did Gareth Evans (17th) and Jack Oliver (10th) while Natasha Perdue (12th) bravely battled through injury to record a total.

Kirkbride is looking to set a new PB of his own but the Scot will do well to break into the top 15 of a weight category which contains a total of 22 lifters across the B group and the evening's elite A group.

"Hopefully (I'll finish) top 15," he said. "Top 10 is really, really (puffs cheeks) in there with the best.

"It is a really hard group and it is all of our GB lifters' first Olympics. It's a bit much to ask for top 10."