Regional Qualifiers – Qualifying for the A/BPU British Championships Single Lifts and Full Power, and the United Kingdom Powerlifting Games

At the beginning of the competing year, we have “qualifiers” which runs from August, straight after the A/BPU Full Power Championships.

These competitions are to qualify you for the British Championships, Single Lift and Full Power AND the United Kingdom Powerlifting Games. The ABPU and BPU have their British Championships and United Kingdom Powerlifting Games at the same time. 

To qualify you for the A/BPU British & United Kingdom Powerlifting Games – both single lifts and full power, you need to hit the !qualifying total” which you can find the links to below: 

BPU Qualifying totals:BPU Qualifying Totals 2025.2026 

ABPU Qualifying Totals: ABPU Qualifying Totals 2025/2026

Other ways to qualify are if you are already reigning A/BPU British Champion, then you already go through to next A/BPU British Championships. If you win at European Championships (either AWPC or WPC) you then qualify for the next years European Championships. If you win your class at World Championships then ultimately you do not have to lift again to the following years world championships to defend your title.

The A/BPU United Kingdom Powerlfting Games is a unique national level competition whihc is a stepping stone toward the higher level British Championships. If you win your class at the Uited Kingdom Powerlifting Games, you will recieve an invitation to the British. 

Qualifying for European Championships 

For AWPC or WPC European Championships you only need to qualify at one of our regional competitions. A/WPC European Championships, although daunting are a great place to start your international lifting career as although you are competing against some of the biggest names in Europe there is less pressure and intensity than at the worlds. We encourage our lifters to experience a A/WPC  European Championships before going onto Worlds so they know what to expect.

BPU Qualifying totals:BPU Qualifying Totals 2025.2026 

ABPU Qualifying Totals: ABPU Qualifying Totals 2025/2026

Qualifying for WPC and AWPC World Championships

To qualify for World Championships you MUST place in the top 3 in your class at the Nationals OR already reining World. If, in the event that someone in the top 3 cannot go then 3^rd and 4^th places are invited and so on. We are allowed a maximum of 3 in the same class at international but have to keep a place free for those who have already qualified.

We have other internationals during the year and of course if you would like to go then contact Emma Ylitalo-James directly and discuss.

What you can’t do………

Well we have had people who perceive themselves to be “elite” in the past and have expected and demanded that they should just qualify for Nationals and also internationals. This is not how we work. Every lifter puts a massive amount of work, determination and commitment into qualification and lifting and no one is “elite” in our federation. Effectively everyone is the same when they stand on platform and we dislike and do not allow “fast tracking” of athletes unless there is exceptional circumstance which has to be put to the federation owners/directors.

BRAND NEW ASSOCIATE UK FEDERATIONS – PLEASE CHECK WHAT YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR THROUGH THESE FEDERATIONS BELOW

You can qualify for the A/BPU Full Power Championships which Is the only gateway to the WPC and AWPC World Championships AND the United Kingdom Powerilfting Games with two BRAND NEW under 2 years old  federations we have a  relationship with. 

Please be aware that these associate federations are under different governing bodies which are not associated with the A/BPU and WPC in any way. .

The rules may be slightly different and should you wish to qualify for the British Full Power Championships or the UK Power Games, you will need to take a BPU/ABPU membership prior to competition.

IPL UK 

For A/BPU British Full Power Championships, and UK Power Games and 2026 qualification.

All A/BPU Members can qualify for the A/BPU British Full Power Championships at any UK IPL event which is a qualifier. We do not accept qualification through national finals or standalone competitions. 

The UK IPL also allows those who compete with them to qualify for our British Full Power Championsips, if they have hit the quaifying total at a qualifying event. You will need a membership with us AT THE TIME OF COMPETITION WHEN YOU HIT THE QUALIFYING TOTAL in order to compete at our major national  events. This is rather a special deal! 

When you compete with the UK IPL, if you check our qualifying totals and find you have hit one of them and wish to compete then please contact us on invitations@britishpowerliftingunion.co.uk for your invitation. 

WRPF UK

All A/BPU Members can qualify for the A/BPU British Full Power Championships 2026 at any Nottingham Strong (WRPF UK) qualifiers. These are the qualifier competitions they run ONLY, not standalone events, nationals or other events. WRPF UK are based at Nottingham Strong and our members are welcome to qualify for the UK Powerifting Games and  A/BPU Full Power British at any of their competitions which are qualifiers throughtout the country. 

Lifters must be an A/BPU member at the time of competing and present their A/BPU membership for it to be logged at weigh in. Please note  you ust have an A/BPU membership otherwise we cannot accept your total for qualification uder ANY circumstances. 

Please remember there are equipment and rules differences between the federations so please check! Lifters are expected when they step on our platform to know the rules of the A/BPU and WPC. 

Once you compete, they will send us the results and we will then send you the invitations for the competitions you have qualified for. Please submit your qualifying total to invitations@britishpowerliftingunion.co.uk for your British Championships invitation.