Gym 'n' tonic secret of fine physique

Jan Dixon

TURAKINA'S Jan Dixon made 12 weeks of dieting and hard gym work pay off with the Ms Physique crown at the NABBA Manawatu/Wanganui bodybuilding championships on Saturday night.

As the best performed local inside the Wanganui Collegiate auditorium, Dixon competed individually in her category of Open Physique Women Short, then went into the overall competition for the evening show against Women Tall competitor Kristi Tungatt (Manawatu), Senior Physique Women winner Tanja Grunwald (Wanganui), and 50+ competitor Joy Crockett (Hawke's Bay).

Unlike the other finalists, Grunwald had to win her category over Vicky Boswell (Manawatu) and Nadene Chapman (Taranaki) earlier in the day.

Having completed their routines, Dixon could not say if the Ms Manawatu crown was hers while they waited for the judges' scores to be tallied.

"I'm never confident until you know the result.

"You never know what the judges are looking for."

Hearing her name called remains a great thrill.

"It makes the hard work worthwhile."

Under her City Gym trainer/mentor Pat McNamara, Dixon with customary modesty said she had probably not done as strong a preparation as she could have, but started the diet process 12 weeks ago.

An eight-year veteran of competition, Dixon will add the Ms Physique title to her range of titles and podium placings, including the 2011 over-35 physique title at the Asia-Pacific Natural Bodybuilding Championships.

She is now targeting the INBA Asia Pacific crown again, to qualify for the Natural Muscle Mania and Natural Olympia events in Las Vegas.

On the night, Kiwilife Hawera gym's Thomas Boyes won the Mr Athletic title and Best Male Performance, while Manawatu's Sarah Malthus of Flex Fitness retained her Ms Figure crown and won Best Female Performance.

The five competing members of Marton's Rangitikei Active combined to retain their Top Gym crown from last year, although the field of 39 overall competitors was much smaller than the 70 who took part in 2014.