Bodybuilding: Cook finds recipe for success

Liam Vandenberk, Hawke's Bay, competed in the hotly-contested novice athletic category, which was won by Braden Service, Napier (right).

Herewini Taurima gave the new Mr Body Boardshorts class the thumbs-up after the 11th annual NABBA Hawke's Bay bodybuilding show ended on Saturday night.

"I'm in this class to stay ... it suits my body," Hawke's Bay's Taurima said after he won the five-strong class at the Taradale High School-hosted show which attracted 50 competitors.

A former crosscountry runner, Taurima, 22, ventured into bodybuilding two years ago when he hooked up with some competitors while working out at City Fitness in Napier. NABBA NZ's Hawke's Bay area representative Andrew Murray said Taurima had come a long way with his physique during the past 12 months.

"All the hard work paid off," Taurima said.

A cook of healthy food products for Komida in Napier, Taurima, pipped Tauranga's Tony Gillgren for the title. One of Taurima's workmates, Braden Service, won the Mr HB Athletic title for the second consecutive year.

Rachael Palmer, of Hawke's Bay's PT Studio, won the novice figure short title.

"Rachael was the outstanding novice at the show," Murray said.

Hot favourite Tracy Coyle, of Napier's City Fitness, won the Miss Hawke's Bay Shape title for the third consecutive year after winning the open shape class. Another favourite, Aaron Vaisigano, of The Lab Health & Fitness, in Napier, won the Mr Physique title for the third consecutive year.

Saturday's show marked the 10th anniversary of Vaisigano's first show as a junior. Both Coyle and Vaisigano will be the Bay's best hopes for titles when the national championship is staged at the Municipal Theatre in Napier for the first time at Labour Day weekend.