Weightlifters strengthen Olympic case

Peter Kirkbride and Natasha Perdue strengthened their claims for a place at London 2012 on Friday by registering the Olympic qualifying B standard at the European Weightlifting Championships in Turkey.

Kirkbride, who claimed silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, just scraped past the post in the men's 94kg weight category. The Scot, 24, lifted 140kg in the snatch and 180kg in the clean and jerk to hit the 320kg minimum total, although he was 19 kilos off the A standard.

Perdue was more convincing in her display in the women's 69kg category as she registered a personal best total of 210kg - 95kg snatch and 115kg clean and jerk - to finish just eight kilos adrift of A class.

Sonny Webster was the final British athlete competing in Antalya, with the 18-year-old taking part in his most senior international competition to date.

He was unable to reach either of the Olympic qualifying standards but put in an impressive display nevertheless in the men's 85kg category, lifting a total of 293kg - 133kg snatch and 160kg clean and jerk.

Kirkbride and Perdue become the sixth and seventh GB athletes to hit a qualifying mark since the Championships started on Monday.

Zoe Smith is the only lifter to achieve the A standard while Jo Calvino, Emily Godley, Jack Oliver and Gareth Evans have each hit B level.

A maximum of three male and two female lifters can be selected to represent Great Britain at this summer's Olympic Games in London.

But they will only be considered if they hit the specified A standard twice or B standard once within their weight category before the end of May, with athletes hitting the A standard given preference.

Cardiff's Darius Jokarzadeh completes home interest on Sunday when he competes in the +105kg weight category.