Entering the SBD British Open Championships
New to entering a British championship? No problem — here's the whole journey in plain English, from hitting a qualifying total to standing on the platform. It's designed to be simple: you tell us what you've lifted, and we take it from there.
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AnnouncedThe competition is announced and the qualifying totals are published. Nothing to do yet — check whether you’ve hit the total.
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Entries open Now28 Sep – 01 Nov 2026The application window is open. Register your interest and tell us the total you’ve hit — it takes about two minutes.
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Under considerationFrom 01 Nov 2026Entries are closed. We verify every total and decide places — places are limited per weight class, so this is where the line-up is worked out.
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Offers going outPlaces are offered in order of verified total, up to each class’s limit. If a place frees up, the next reserve is offered it.
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Line-up confirmed04 Dec 2026The final line-up is set. Confirmed lifters appear on the nominations list, ready for competition day.
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28 Sep2026Entries openRegistration of interest opens. Hit the qualifying total and you can put your name forward.
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01 Nov2026Qualifying-total cut-offThe last day a qualifying total can be lifted and still count towards this championship.
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01 Nov2026Entries closeThe last day to register your interest. Nothing can be submitted after this.
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02 Nov2026Offers emailed fromFrom this date, everyone inside their weight class's top 16 on verified qualifying total is emailed an offer of a place (once totals have been checked).
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12 Nov2026Payment deadlineOffered athletes accept and pay by this date. Your own deadline is on your offer email — this is the date it lands on for a first-round offer.
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13 Nov2026Spare places distributed fromFrom this date, any place not taken up goes to the next athlete on the GoodLift list — the highest GL score outside the top 16 in that pool.
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27 Nov2026Final entriesThe line-up closes. No places are offered or filled after this date.
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04 Dec2026CompetitionNEC Birmingham.
1. Hit the qualifying total
Every weight class has a qualifying total — the combined squat, bench press and deadlift you need to have achieved to be eligible. It must come from an IPF-sanctioned competition — any British Powerlifting event, or a meet run by another IPF member federation — within the qualifying window, because we verify every total against the official results. Gym lifts and unsanctioned meets don't count. If you've done it, you're eligible to enter — it doesn't matter whether it was your first competition or your fiftieth.
Because this is a full-power competition, we ask for your squat, bench and deadlift as well as the total — that's so we (and you) can be sure the number checks out.
2. Register your interest (the entries window)
Entries open for a set window — typically a few weeks. During that window you fill in a short form (about two minutes): your best qualifying total and the competition, date and place where you hit it, so we can verify it against the official results.
Entries open 28 September 2026. Entries close 01 November 2026.
Registering your interest is not a guaranteed place — but it's how you're put forward for one.
3. Under consideration
Once entries close, we verify every total and work out the line-up. Places are limited in each weight class, so if a class is popular not everyone who registers will get a place straight away. Offers go out in order of verified qualifying total. If you're beyond the limit for your class you go on the reserve list — and if a place frees up, the next reserve is offered it.
4. Spare places and the GoodLift list
Not every class fills. Rather than run the championship with empty places, any place left unfilled — because a class was undersubscribed, or an offer was declined or not paid for — is offered to the strongest athlete still waiting, measured on GoodLift (GL) points. GL is the IPF's score for comparing totals across bodyweights, so it's a fair way to compare a lifter in one class against a lifter in another.
Spare places are only ever redistributed within the same pool — an unused women's place stays in the women's classes, and age categories keep their own places. The GoodLift standby list on the competition page shows that order live, so you can see where you stand.
5. Your offer, and paying
If you're offered a place, we'll email you. You accept in one click, then pay your entry fee within 7 days to confirm it. Miss the window and the place passes to the next reserve, so keep an eye on your inbox (and your spam folder).
6. You're on the line-up
Once you've paid, you're confirmed. You'll appear on the public nominations list and we'll be in touch with the schedule and running order closer to the day. Then it's just you and the bar.
🏅 Not sure you're good enough? If you've hit the qualifying total, you belong here. Register — the worst that happens is you go on the reserve list.
What if something stopped you?
If illness, injury, exams, an unavoidable work commitment or major travel disruption stopped you getting a qualifying total — or stopped you competing at the championship you needed to enter — you can ask for dispensation. You'll be asked what happened, for your competition record, and for evidence: a medical certificate, or a letter from your exam board, line manager or travel company.
Requests are decided by British Powerlifting's Dispensation Panel — the Performance Director, the CEO and an Independent Director. Their decision is final. A granted dispensation lets you be considered; it doesn't cover the entry or anti-doping fees.
Request dispensation →