Nik Ordish [centre] … winner, Figure 40 plus class. PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV
BODYBUILDING
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
Wairarapa bodybuilders flexed and posed their way to nine first placings at the Wai Weight Nabba [National Amateur Bodybuilders Association] Lower North Island Championships at Wairarapa College on Saturday.
Top of the list was the Shape Shop gym, which won five firsts, two thirds, and the Top Gym trophy.
Remarkably, four of their winners were first-time competitors. Angela Smart won the Physique 50 plus and the overall Miss Lower North Island Physique titles, Jaime Fitzgerald won the Novice Shape, Miss Lower North Island Shape and Best Routine titles, Anna Jacobsen won the Shape 30 Plus class and Bryan Stott claimed the Masters Athletic 40 plus title. Top Gym owner Linda Oldfield won the Figure 50 Plus class in her final competitive outing.
“I’m just over the moon with all our competitors,” Oldfield said. “Just to get them there was one thing but to see them perform and present themselves so immaculately on the day — they looked fantastic.”
She would now encourage Smart and Fitzgerald to prepare for the Nabba national championships in Palmerston North at Labour Weekend — the next step up from the Lower North Island championship.
Another who is likely to tackle the nationals is Nik Ordish [Flex Fitness], who was crowned Figure 40 Plus champion at her debut competition. However, victory looked a long way off for the 49-year-old when she first stepped on the stage in a bundle of nerves.
“I was knackered afterwards. I was so nervous, and I was shaking so much I thought I was going to fall over.” Ordish said.
“It was probably about halfway through before the legs stopped shaking and I could flex my leg muscles without the fear of them falling out from underneath me.
“I knew I had put the work in with my trainer and nutritionist and stuff, but it was nice to win that.
“I wasn’t going to the nationals, but it looks like I’m going to. It kind of seems silly when they are in Palmy and so close.”
The competition was also a step into the unknown for Rachael Lewis, who picked up third in the Classic Women class.
Lewis was super pleased with her result and what she had achieved but said it was a massive commitment.
“It was seven months since I committed to it in March, and I feel great and feel like I have achieved.”
But Lewis, who has run several marathons, said the level of commitment was something she hadn’t experienced before and was unsure if she would do it again
“Training for a marathon is a walk in the park compared to this. With marathon training, you eat more, and this is a lot of commitment with all the training and diet, but I’m thrilled with third.”
Other winners were Jacob Walsh in the Board Shorts class, and Shane Mahupuku in the Novice Men’s Physique.
However, the happiest man on the night was Bevan MacKenzie. Not only did the Wai Weight gym owner organise the event, he also won the men’s over 40 and the Overall Male Physique title, with an ad-lib routine.
“I had done no posing practice and no routine practice, I had only focused on running the show,” said MacKenzie.
“I had pretty much been covered up the whole prep with dieting and training so on the day I just hoped for the best, and I don’t think I was too far off my best and I surprised myself.
“What I did enjoy is that I normally practise a routine, and I thought I don’t have any time so I’m just going to make it up as I go. I made up my routine as I went and I think I ended up doing one of best routines because I didn’t have the pressure of forgetting something that I hadn’t practised for.’
MacKenzie was most thrilled that he been able to put together a successful show, saying that the competitors were happy that they had the chance to compete, Waicol were pleased with how the event went, and there had been great support from local businesses.
“I’ve had some small businesses approach me and say if you do this again, we’d love to be involved.”
MacKenzie also thanked the 15 volunteers, mainly from the Wai Weight gym, who worked all day to make the event run smoothly.
He would now push to get the Nabba national championships to Masterton next year.
