Turakina's Jan muscles in on Vegas contest

KIWI PRIDE: Jan Dixon swept the Masters classes and came third woman overall at the World Natural Bodybuilding Olympia in Las Vegas.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Turakina farmer Jan Dixon reached her optimum for a veteran women's bodybuilder with two titles and a top three overall placing at the World Natural Bodybuilding Olympia competition in Las Vegas last month.

The City Gym exponent had finished runnerup in the Women's 40+ grade at the Nabba Nationals in Auckland back in October, with hockey coaching commitments keeping her from a full training schedule.

However, after the hard work in the gym and sticking to the always stringent dieting regime, Dixon was peaking at the right time for the Olympia competition, held in the middle of November at the conference room in the Bally's Hotel and Casino.

She edged out the 4-5 other women in the Masters Over 40 class, then won the overall Masters Olympia title against the winners of the Over 50 and Over 60 grades, who had also beaten similar competition.

Among all competitors in the Women's Open class, Dixon came third.

"It went really well. Probably doing the overall title for the Masters was best."

There was a large contingent of Americans, Europeans and about 130 Australians who took part in the men's and women's competitions.

Dixon was one of 22 New Zealanders, most of whom got top placings.

Natural bodybuilding has stringent rules with all competitors drug tested while in competition.

After the show, Dixon and her fellow Kiwis headed out to see the bright lights of the famous Las Vegas strip.

"You don't have to go far, it's a pretty crazy place."

Dixon stayed in Las Vegas another week to compete in another show - the Muscle Main Event - but did not get a placing.

She will now take a break over summer, before looking to return to competition around May in order to qualify again for the world competition in June, although she will have to arrange finances to make the trip to Hungary.

Dixon thanked City Gym trainer Pat McNamara for "putting up with me" to get ready for Las Vegas.