Bodybuilding mum Rachel MacKenzie is to retire from competition to pursue a career after taking silver at national finals in Wellington at the weekend.
MacKenzie, who last month won gold in Masterton as overall North Island champion in the women's figure short class and silver in mixed pairs alongside husband Bevan,
took silver in the open figure short class.
The Masterton mother of three squared off against eight other national figure competitors in her class, and was judged a close second to Christchurch bodybuilder and defending champion Sheryl Paterson, Mr MacKenzie said.
"Rachel did so well when you consider it was only her third show and she took second place over Melanie Westland, who has won several overall New Zealand regional titles, and is a past Australian champ who also took second in her class at a world event in Greece last year.
"I'm just so proud of Rach; it shows just how good she did when you see the calibre of her competitors. "She is without doubt one of the best in the country."
Fellow Masterton bodybuilder Julie Buck placed in the top five in the same class after winning a haul of medals at her first international contest in Sydney this month.
MacKenzie, who holds a BA in social sciences, is now in the throes of starting a new career that she has been chasing since February.
"I've decided to put my BA to some use and take time off from competition to get more muscle mass before I have another go," she said.
Mr MacKenzie is set to take fulltime care of their three children, he said, and management of the couple's private gym in Masterton, Wai Weight.
"Rach had an interview a week before the contest and the timing could have been better I guess but there are only a few more hurdles before she finds out if she has what it takes to go where she wants.
"But she's so determined, I'm sure she'll make it I have no doubts about that."
