| I started weight training
at 18 years old at a body weight of 133lb's. I was always fascinated
by the bodybuilders I saw in the magazines and the amount of
strength and power they possessed, as well as how incredibly
fit they looked.
I too wanted that look and have been training as hard as
I can to achieve it. Even though I was not blessed with superb
genetics I was still driven to get the best physique I could.
As many people do, I started training in the garage with
a number of vinyl disc plates and a bench purchased from
Argos!
After a year of garage training I progressed to my first
gym. It was more of a fitness gym that possessed only a few
free weights, but it suited me at the time and I was able
to make reasonable improvements over another year of training.
At this stage I realised the need for more free weights and
better machines and joined more of a bodybuilders gym.
It was there that I noticed my biggest improvements, and
for the first time I started to think about competing.
I didn't actually compete until 1997 when I entered the
A.N.B West of England Championships at Taunton. I placed
2nd in the show, and was happy about my condition, but I
needed more size to compete against the likes of the winner
Rob Feesby. Interestingly, Rob went on to win the Great Britain's
that year.
The next year (1998) I encountered a host of injuries, which
included a severe low back problem that flared up 4 days
before the West of England Championships.
I was not in good shape that year, but against a good line
up of 8 very good competitors. I achieved 4th, and again
I feel my shape pulled me through.
In 1999 I had my first breakthrough with a win at the Central
England Championships in Oxford. I had won my first contest
and was looking forward to what the future might bring.
In the year 2000 I experienced a hernia injury two weeks
before the West of England Championships, which was operated
on by the British Hernia Association.
Because of that, I missed the West of England that year but
qualified for the Great British Championships 8 weeks after
the operation at a competition in Wales where I placed 2nd.
I went on to the Great Britain and came a respectable 7th,
even though I knew the hernia had held me back to a certain
extent.
My best year to date came in 2001 where I placed 1st at
both The Central England and the South East Championships.
Then I went on to win the Great British Finals in the under
75kg class, beating my old rival Rob Feesby by one point
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