Nelson’s growing bodybuilding community exceeded its expectations at the South Island Natural and Open Regional IFBB Championships in Christchurch recently.
The seven competitors returned with 16 medals,12 of them gold.
Leading the charge were South African couple Brittney and Carl Botha, who won five titles.
Brittney was competing in her first show, and her thorough preparation had been disrupted by the flu as her debut approached.
“I had three days of really high fevers, and the body was under strain. I didn’t think I would come in lean enough and do well as I missed two weeks of cardio fitness,” reveals Brittney, who works, coaches and trains out of Anytime Fitness. That’s where Carl’s experience proved vital.
“He just kept telling me to ‘trust the process and you will be fine’. When it comes to training and seeing potential, Carl really does push you. He’s not just my husband and best friend, he is a really great coach,” enthuses the 27-year-old.
“It had always been a dream of mine to step on stage, but I had always put it off.”
Brittney overcame her illness, and any nerves, to win the Women’s Fit Model True Novice and Open Class A sections, which assured her of the overall honours as well.
“I walked down the stairs with my big medal, looked at Carl and said ‘I’ve got it’.”
Keeping it in the family, Carl took out the Men’s Classic Physique Open Class A and Masters 35+.
Carl had only just turned 35 so the timing was perfect, although he missed out on the overall title.
“The judges told me my glutes were too soft. I have always battled with them, so it was good feedback,” says the 1.7m and 82.6kg body builder, who was a halfback in schoolboy rugby.
The Botha’s left Durban six years ago for Wellington, but the warmer climes of Tasman drew them here in 2022.
“I had competed in South Africa but had put that on the backburner while we settled into our new lifestyle. The local bodybuilding scene was pretty small, but a year ago I decided I had to pull the trigger again because time moves on,” Carl says.
He combines coaching and training at CityFitness with his Tasman District Council role as Water Supply Team Leader.
“I enjoy training and seeing what the body can do, even though it can mean 4am starts.”
Fellow South African Samanda La Grange, originally from Bloemfontein, also starred in Christchurch, winning two masters 35+ and an Open Figure Class B title, while Julie Pyers completed a clean sweep in her return to competition after several years away to have children.
Julie claimed the Novice and Open Class B titles and was the overall South Island Bikini winner.
Liam Le Lievre won the Men’s Physique True Novice, while Mason Hardie and Dom Cole also picked up medals.
“While we were competing as individuals rather than as a Nelson team, everyone stuck together. We had a big and noisy support group. You couldn’t see them from the stage, but you could sure hear them,” Carl says. “It makes a huge difference and gets you going.”
The next challenge is the nationals in Auckland this weekend, with Brittney and Samanda both competing.
“I am not a true novice anymore, so will be up in class,” confirms Brittney before heading off for a video posing session.
“I do those two times a week with a coach in Wellington who goes through my routine and makes tweaks where necessary. You may have the best physique, but you have to know how to show it off on stage.”
Brittney can see the growth in the local bodybuilding community with more younger people in the very competitive gym scene.
“I had a young girl come up to me and say ‘you are such an inspiration that I want to do that one day’.”
