The 2025 Classic and Equipped Bench Only Nationals will take place on Saturday 6 December at Catalyst Strength in Hobart, Tasmania! This one-day event will bring together Australia’s strongest bench press athletes across both classic and equipped divisions.

Entry Criteria

All applicants to the Australian Powerlifting Alliance (APA) Classic and Equipped Bench Only Nationals on December 6th 2025 must meet the following entry criteria:

1. Be a current member of the APA,
2. Not serving an Anti-Doping rule violation sanction,
3. Compete in the qualification window and meet the qualifying criteria detailed below,
4. Not be serving a sanction or be under investigation for a breach of IPF, APA constitution, policies or
   bylaws,
5. Have completed at least one APA-approved volunteer session within the 12 months prior to
   application,
6. Have no outstanding monies owed to the APA, including but not limited to membership fees, event
   entry fees, or international competition expenses, and
7. Not be a member of another powerlifting federation.

Anti-Doping Education Requirement

All national-level athletes are required to complete the updated Sport Integrity Australia Anti-Doping Fundamentals course and annual update each year. Completion of the updated module is mandatory prior to entering the competition. Failure to complete the module will result in immediate withdrawal from the competition, and the position will be offered to the next eligible athlete on the waitlist. No extensions will be granted.

Qualification & Entry Process

PRIMARY SELECTION

• All APA competitors who are eligible and who have met the qualifying total for their weight class will be able to enter the event. Refer to pages 2-5 of this document for qualifying totals.
  • The qualification window runs from 12 months prior to the event through to 12 weeks out.
  • The final eligible competition date for Classic and Equipped Bench Only Nationals 2026 is Saturday, 13 September 2025.
  • Competitors may use 3-lift competitions to qualify.

WEIGHT CLASS CHANGE

• Competitors are able to qualify for Classic and Equipped Bench Only Nationals 2025 in the weight class they competed in when attaining a qualifying total, and also one (1) weight class above.
  • The qualifying total must be met for the registered class.