Prominent local vibe at East Coast championships

STRIKING A POSE: Anita Jump (left) won the Figure 50-plus category and Jual Toroa won the Novice Figure, Short, division.

BODYBUILDING

LOUD and proud — the East Coast bodybuilding championships had a prominent local vibe last weekend and organisers hope to build on that for next year.

Tawhiri Walsh, one of the organisers, said about half of the competitors were first-timers, most of them local, and crowd support was strong.

Rather than just seeing a stage full of seasoned bodybuilders, supporters also saw people they knew or a “normal, everyday person” giving the sport a try, he said.

“That caught the attention of the public.”

The National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association event was staged at Gisborne’s War Memorial Theatre.

“It had a real local vibe to it — a real cultural vibe as well,” Walsh said.

Many of the athletes had Maori-inspired routines.

Walsh said the number of rookies in the field — he counted 10 — struck a chord with local people and some said they had been inspired to have a go themselves.

“I’m picking that next year we’ll double that.”

His brother Johnny Walsh won the Overall Mr Physique title as a novice last year and then successfully defended his title this year.

Ron Tamatea, a former Poverty Bay and YMP rugby player, took the masters 50-plus title.

Karla Wynd won Overall Ms Physique, Best Female Performance and the award for best physique for women 50-plus, and took out the mixed pairs category with Wayne Hardy.

Jual Toroa, a teacher and mother of five, won Overall Ms Figure.

Tawhiri Walsh said the event attracted two big crowds — one for the judging and the second for the evening entertainment show.

The vocal support was a step up on what he had seen at other centres.

It’s not yet known if the East Coast championships will run at the same time next year or if they will revert to their normal slot in September.

This year’s nationals are in Palmerston North in October.