Rookie powerlifter makes big impression

It would be hard to compete with the special skill Nelson personal trainer Jacqui Stewart Ward brings to masters powerlifting.

One of her other roles is hypnotherapy which aims to heighten concentration and focus attention.

A perfect fit for her new sport, which the former netball player and umpire only took up last year.

“A club member at Fitness by CLM suggested I try powerlifting as I had started to get into strength and resistance training at the gym,” says Jacqui, after finishing her morning shift at the Richmond Aquatic Centre.

At 1.75 metres, her stature was ideal for the explosive disciplines lifting requires.
She joined World Powerlifting New Zealand, one of five federations, and importantly one that drug tests.

“The competitors are super lovely which I really like about the sport as well,” the 42-year-old enthuses.

Jacqui went to the World Powerlifting Oceania Championships in Christchurch and recorded four personal bests as she overpowered her rivals in the over 40’s section.

She had a 120-kilogram squat, a 75kg bench and finished with a 145kg deadlift, her favourite discipline.

That gave the former human relations consultant a 340kg total, and not only the gold in her class, but silver in the female open category.

“It was an amazing day and such a lot of fun. I was in the zone,” declares Jacqui.
So, what is her secret?

“I train five or six times a week and eat lots of carbs. Mass moves mass,” says the mother of two, who now has a coach as well.

“Amanda Stillwell is a real powerhouse.”

They don’t compete against each other, as Amanda belongs to one of the other federations.

Jacqui would like to see more women get involved in the sport and hopes her high visibility in the gym will encourage others.

“Just last week, I went to the first ever powerlifting retreat in Upper Moutere. It was run by world champion Carli Dillen and it was wicked. So much fun.”

Providing entertainment is another part of her very busy life.

She is the vocalist and plays tambourine in the covers duo Jacq N’ Dean, and one of her recent gigs was at the Wakefield Hotel, not far from where she was born in Wai-iti.

“Plenty of Beatles songs that night. We specialise in rock and pop from the 1960’s onwards,” the former Waimea College student says.

This year is promising to be even busier, as she weighs up where to compete as well as juggling her P.T and office roles at the gym, hypnotherapy and singing.

The world championships are being held in Sri Lanka, the Oceania’s in Sydney, the nationals in Tokoroa and the South Island champs in Dunedin.

Jacqui is really keen to get to Dunedin, as that is where she went to Otago University and graduated with a Master of Business degree.