12 weightlifters head to Commonwealth Games

Richard Patterson. Photo / Paul Estcourt.

New Zealand will send a team of 12 weightlifters to the Commonwealth Games next month, including two past silver medallists.

Auckland's Richard Patterson (85kg) and Stanislav Chalaev (105kg) both won silvers at the Delhi Games four years ago.

Patterson, a two-time Olympic representative and ranked No 1 in the Commonwealth, is keen to go one better this time.

"I had my heart set on the gold in 2010 and I didn't know if I'd ever had an opportunity to go for it again," he said. "Glasgow is a chance for me to stand at the very top of the dais."

Boat builder Mark Spooner, who contested the Beijing Olympics and Delhi, has come out of retirement and qualified. He won his 69kg class at the Oceania championships last month.

There's a set of brothers, Auckland's Philippines-born Lou and Ianne Guinares have won selection in the squad, which is the largest New Zealand has sent to a Commonwealth Games, five more than competed in Delhi.

New Zealand have won 36 weightlifting medals at the Games.

New Zealand team:
Women: Phillipa Hale (Auckland, 53kg), Lauren Roberts (Auckland, 63kg), Bailey Rogers (Marlborough, 75kg), Tracey Lambrechs (Auckland, 75+kg).
Men: Lou Guinares (Auckland, 56kg), Ianne Guinares (Auckland, 62kg), Mark Spooner (Auckland, 69kg), Cody Cole (Auckland, 69kg), Stanislav Chalaev (Auckland, 105kg), Matthew Madsen (77kg), Richard Patterson (Auckland, 85kg) and Saxon Gregory-Hunt (Christchurch, 85kg).