Kevin Hopwood has been named the top bodybuilder aged over 50 in the Solent region.

He clinched the Normandy Cup against three rivals in the Solent City bodybuilding championshipsby the British association of bodybuilders.

He also won the prize for the best posing ability among the contestants with a routine to the 2001: A Space Odyssey theme tune.

His success enabled him to qualify for the British Masters in Birmingham in October.

He came fourth in a national championship in 2007 following an earlier qualification and is hopeful of bettering that position.

"I reckon I will do well this year," he said.

Mr Hopwood (50), of Central Avenue, was delighted with his wins as a reward for being in the best shape of his life.

He said: "Bodybuilding has become a way of life for me. I was 17st when I started and massively overweight. I'm now competing at 13 to 13½st and I have totally transformed what I look like."

His enthusiasm for pumping muscle led to him to recently open a gym in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, to help others achieve their fitness targets.

Mr Hopwood's success completes his return to bodybuilding in style after he dabbled in the sport as a youngster, but had to give up as he started work.

His wife's desire to lose some weight prompted him to consider bodybuilding again.

A daunting training regime was adopted which involved four gym sessions a week for 90 minutes a time.

The 12 weeks before competitions sees that schedule intensified to two sessions a day, fuelled by a daily diet of ten meals.




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