Join British Weightlifting Technical Officials Aaron and Jess as they review three major 2025 UK strength events: the English Champs, ATHX, and the SBD Classic. Get the insider's perspective. In this comprehensive episode of To The Bar, hosts Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney sit down to unpack a packed season of British strength sports. Moving from the platform to the podcast, they offer their unique, dual perspective as experienced technical officials and passionate community members to review three landmark events from December 2025: the British Weight lifting English Championships, the ATHX fitness festival, and the British Powerlifting SBD Classic Open. The conversation begins with the sport's traditional showpiece event. The NEC Experience: Aaron and Jess discuss the sheer scale of hosting the English Championships at the NEC in Birmingham. Spotlight on Athletes: Specific highlights include analysis of standout performances from both seasoned internationals and new talents emerging on the national stage. They share observations on technical excellence and the intense competition for national titles. The Technical Official's View: True to the podcast's ethos, they provide insights into the challenges and rewards of officiating at this level, ensuring the competition ran smoothly and fairly for all lifters. The focus shifts from traditional weightlifting to the dynamic, festival environment of ATHX. A Different Kind of Event: The hosts contrast the structured format of the English Champs with the expansive, community-driven feel of ATHX. They describe the energy of the festival, where weightlifting is one part of a broader functional fitness spectacle. Access and Atmosphere: They reflect on the more accessible, interactive nature of the event for fans, and what this format means for promoting the sports to a wider audience. The discussion covers the blend of elite competition and participatory fitness. The CrossFit-Weightlifting Crossover: A recurring theme in To The Bar's coverage is explored further: how events like ATHX serve as a crucial bridge, introducing CrossFit athletes and enthusiasts to the sport of Olympic weightlifting. The review concludes with an analysis of a major powerlifting meet, showcasing the hosts' respect for all strength disciplines. Contrasting the Sports: Aaron and Jess draw clear comparisons between the technical, explosive nature of weightlifting and the maximal, pure strength displays of powerlifting. They discuss the different rules, commands, and judging priorities. Event Execution and Community: They review the organization of the SBD Classic, praising its execution and the distinct, supportive atmosphere of the powerlifting community. Observations are shared on notable lifts and athletes who defined the competition. Unified Strength Community: A key takeaway is their appreciation for the shared spirit between the weightlifting and powerlifting communities in the UK. They emphasize that despite different rules, the core values of discipline, support, and chasing personal excellence remain the same. This review episode underscores To The Bar's central mission: to explore and celebrate the depth of the strength sports community. By analyzing three distinct events, Aaron and Jess demonstrate that whether it's on the weightlifting platform in Birmingham, the festival floor at ATHX, or the powerlifting rack at the SBD Classic, every athlete has a story worth telling. Their technical insight provides invaluable context, while their community-focused commentary keeps the human element at the forefront. Listen to the Full Episode: To The Bar: Season Review 2025 Continue to follow our journey to find strength in every story. Explore more episodes, photography, and community features on our website to-thebar.com and join the conversation on Instagram @_to_thebar. This episode and our work are supported by LuxiaoJun UK.