Bodybuilding: Sellout crowds for buff competition

ReVitalise Health & Fitness member Courtney Harvey was the sole entrant in Ms Fitness category. Photo/Rae Cliffe

Wanganui held up its end of the bargain for the first major national bodybuilding organisation event of 2014 drawing a sellout crowd to the Wanganui Collegiate School auditorium on Saturday night.

The Manawatu/Wanganui championships of the National Amateur Bodybuilders' Association (NABBA) was the first time they have been held in Wanganui in the 24 years of the event and organisers were delighted with the crowd.

As well as the full seating in the auditorium for the evening session, which followed the judging round that afternoon, there was a strong turnout of more than 70 entries from Wanganui, Rangitikei, a large Taranaki contingent and others from Dannevirke, Bay of Plenty, and Wellington.

Spokeswoman Marianne Poole said the supporters were vocal and appreciative, which showed in the competitors' efforts.

"The standard was outstanding."

In his first competition, Club Fitness Wanganui's Isaac Chamberlain was recognised for Best Male Performance after entering the Teenage Men category.

Poole said the young man really impressed.

"Out of 70 athletes, he was the top male."

It was a big evening for the 10 members of Marton's Rangitikei Active Gym, as their collective efforts netted them the Top Gym/Team award.

Starting with 10 points for a category or an overall win, then five for runner-up and three for third, Rangitikei members combined for 78 points, twice the amount of the next highest gym.

It means the Manawatu award stays in the region for another year as Club Fitness Wanganui members won it in 2013.

Rangitikei's Loni Kailahi, entering in the Masters 50+ grade, was also awarded the Overall Mr Physique title.

While it was decided to host the championships in Wanganui this year because the regular venue of Palmerston North will have the 2014 national championships in October, the surprisingly strong turnout may convince organisers to hold the regional event here again in the future.

"Audrey O'Keefe of ReVitalise Natural Health and Fitness is really keen to bring it back, and with an audience like that it makes it a lot more [financially practical]," said Poole.

"We don't get sellouts even in Palmerston North."

Results

Overall - Ms Physique: Tina Merriman (Snap Tauranga); Mr Athletic: Alex James (Massey); Ms Figure: Sarah Malthus (Human Movements/Massey); Mr Physique: Loni Kailahi (Rangitikei Active Gym); Ms Shape: Kate Forster (Massey); Ms Fitness: Courtney Harvey (ReVitalise Natural Health & Fitness). Best Male Performance: Isaac Chamberlain (Club Fitness Wanganui); Best Female Performance (Kate Forster). Top Gym/Team: Rangitikei Active Gym.

Categories - Teenage Men: Issac Chamberlain; Senior Physique 50+: Lynette Burgess (Human Movements); Senior Physique 40+: Vicky Boswell (City Gym Wanganui); Masters 60+: Martin Southall (Rangitikei Active Gym); Novice Athletic Short: Michael Little (Inspire Wanganui); Novice Shape: Kate Forster; Open Shape: Tamara Merriman (Taranaki); Novice Athletic Tall: Tony Small (Universal Health); Novice Physique Women Short: Jo Stevenson; Novice Physique Men Tall: John Alio (Rangitikei); Novice Figure Tall: Kristi Tungatt; Masters Athletic 40+: Darren Faulkner (Inspire Wanganui); Masters Athletic 50+: John Coll (Rangitikei Active Gym); Teenage Women: Michaela Sullenberger (Rangitikei Active Gym); Novice Physique Tall: Nadene Chapman (Rockbodz New Plymouth); Open Physique Women Tall: Tracy Buddle (Human Movements); Senior Figure 40+: Maria Dunlop (Rockbodz New Plymouth); Novice Figure Short: Jodie McLaughlin (Rangitikei Active Gym); Junior Men: Liam Phillips (City Fitness New Plymouth); Open Physique Women Short: Tina Merriman; Novice Physique Men Short: Glen Lacy; Masters 50+: Loni Kailahi; Open Physique Men Short: Thomas Tataurangi (Club Fitness Wanganui); Open Figure Short: Sarah Malthus (Human Movements/Massey); Open Figure Tall: Jackie Small (Universal Health); Senior Figure: Maureen Thomas (Club Fitness Wanganui); Open Athletic Short: Andrew Murray (Bay City Gym Napier); Open Athletic Tall: Alex James; Mixed Pairs: Jackie & Tony Small.