Russell, Ivy (May 28, 1932). Give Us a Chance, Mr. Lowry! In: Health and Strength, p. 631.


GIVE US A CHANCE, MR. LOWRY!

Miss Ivy Russell, in this Letter to the Editor, Appeals to the Governing Body to Give Lady Lifters a Hearing.


MAY I, through the columns of our Mag. make an appeal to all lady leaguers to band together for the purpose of appealing to the "British Amateur Weight-Lifters' Association" to accept ladies into their wonderful organization?

Since my contest and the winning of the 9st. Ladies' Weight-Lifting Championship of Great Britain, reporters from different papers have been calling and asking for information as to my future intentions, probable contests, records, etc., and it is difficult to explain to them that my hopes, desires and prospects are restricted in advance by the attitude of the Governing Body of British Weight-Lifting.

This has brought home to me very forcibly the necessity for a governing body to cater for the interests of lady lifters. To tell the reporters that the governing body does not really condemn weight-lifting, providing the instruction given to lady participants is really expert and that reasonable precautions are taken, is not, candidly, understood by these newspaper men. They can, and rightly, say, "Why does not the controlling association have the courage of its own convictions?"---to be afraid of adverse criticism through the daily press is not the attitude to be commended. If the B.A.W.L.A. had really been afraid of adverse criticism, it would have died out years ago. In fact, it would never have commenced activities!!

It is also apparent that my training and enthusiasm would have been in vain had not Miss Tinmouth given me the opportunity of a real contest. Yet I know that a good many lady weight-lifters are about the country. One often reads in the league notes in "Health and Strength" of them inquiring if there is a lady leaguer who can lift this and that weight, but when one writes it seems that they are only putting out a feeler. Why? I think it is because they are not being controlled and trained correctly and that, mark you, is just where the harm will arise.

The veto of the Governing Body will only serve to discourage real lifters from accepting the training of ladies. Consequently ladies in many parts of the country will train under conditions far from ideal, with consequent harm, not only to the ladies themselves, but for the B.A.W.L.A. as a body.

Mr. Lowry himself admitted that he feared that the competition would prove a farce. He also had other fears that were not realised, as even the newspaper reporters had to admit. Even the "Tatler" thought fit to publish notes, and not one daily newspaper could find anything really wrong. Praise and admiration, however, are insufficient to satisfy anybody really as interested in weight-lifting as I am. I want action, as, at the moment, I feel like a ship without a rudder, and this is where the B.A.W.L.A. can live up to its name.

Regarding the alleged evil effects of weight-lifting on women, let me say this: it is a pity that some of these "scare-mongers" and "old mother Hubbards" don't try to prevent working girls from lifting heavy weights that are awkward to get hold of, and, moreover, the lifting of which is compulsory in their everyday work. These hardworking girls, in the course of their duties, take far more risks than I ever shall, because they are not trained to perform their tasks with the minimum of strain and output of energy.

I do not know yet what response the Editor received to the request for lady lifters to communicate with him. [It was 
not too good.---Ed.] I feel sure, however, that the response will not really represent the actual and potential number of lady lifters. If each club in Great Britain were permitted to send in a roll of signatures from their club, it would be surprising how many votes weight-lifting would receive. It is also amazing how many leaguers will not bother about filling in their forms---even though they are enthusiastic about lifting---and fondly hug the delusion that to continue practice is sufficient to popularise the sport.

Come, B.A.W.L.A., open the door to us ladies! We'll prove ourselves a credit to you and not a nuisance. Instructors will soon be found once we know positively and definitely that the ban is removed.

Give us the opportunity. Give us the chance, if only for a definite period as an experiment. Don't condemn us for our alleged shortcomings in other spheres. Prove to us that you really cater for all classes irrespective of district, section or ability, as so often is claimed by the Governing body for all British Weight-Lifting. 

S/LGR. IVY E. RUSSELL.
(9st. Amateur Lady Weight-Lifting Champion of Great Britain.)
246, Sydenham Road,
West Croydon, Surrey.