NZ title reward for Walsh’s sacrifice

POSEDOWN: Gisborne’s Tawhiri Walsh flexes at the NABBA national bodybuilding championships in Palmerston North. Walsh won the open men’s tall category. Picture supplied by muscleimaging.com

BODYBUILDING

IT was third time lucky for former Poverty Bay rugby player Tawhiri Walsh when he won a National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association New Zealand title in Palmerston North.

“It was a nerve-racking time at the finals announcement, as my category was announced last,” said the 33-year-old, who was a member of the Bay squad who won the Heartland Championship’s Lochore Cup in 2008 and were beaten Meads Cup semifinalists in 2009.

“I was feeling confident but when I heard my number read out there were emotions of relief and a sense of massive achievement from knowing all the pain and sacrifice that had gone into my training,”

It was Walsh’s third nationals and second time in the open division.

He was second in the novice tall category in 2016 and second in the open tall category last year.

Walsh was again in the open men’s tall category in Palmerston North — “all entrants get put into height categories”.

“It was a two-show format, with pre-judging from 8am to 2pm then the finals from 4pm to 8.30pm.

“I was feeling great going into the champs as I had a really solid 12-week preparation leading into the competition.

“I tapered my training up from two hours a day to 4½ hours training a day over the last six weeks.

It consisted of 2½ hours of gut-busting cardio, followed by 1½ hours of intense weight training. He started at 4.30am and finished his last cardio session at 6.30pm.

“I felt very confident going into pre-judging where the judges give their scores, rating each competitor from first to last place.

“I knew the amount of work I had put into it but it wasn’t about just winning for me.

“I wanted to be able to look in the mirror and honestly say that I left nothing in the tank. I knew I had given it everything in the lead-up so my confidence was high.”

The Gizzy Muscle Gym owner led the competition from “the get-go through to the night show”.

“That’s not disrespecting any of the other guys. I just think I was on my own level on the day.”

Walsh who played second five-eighth for OBM and Poverty Bay, took up bodybuilding in 2016 “to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone”.

“I had always done team sports and wanted to see how I could go in an individual sport like bodybuilding

“I got a bit of good-natured jibe from former teammates about wearing tan and a G-string etc, but it was all in good spirit.”

Walsh, wife Shana and children Ayvah (6), Mila (5) and Kaia (3) are on a well-earned break in Hawaii.

“It’s family time now.

“I have no plans for next year although I have been invited to Poland next year to represent New Zealand.”

There were a couple of other impressive Gisborne results.

Varn Hiko won the teenage division and Rimu Moeau was second in the novice athletic division.

“Both represented their families and region with pride, and held their own honourably on the biggest stage,” said Walsh.

“They both have huge futures and I look forward to watching them one day dominate their divisions.

Walsh reinforced the work it took to attain such success.

“Bodybuilding is by far the toughest sport I have ever been a part of,” said Walsh.

“The commitment and dedication needed to compete at a national level is gut-wrenching and would test the mental fortitude of the toughest minds.”