News

Bodybuilding mum Rachel MacKenzie is to retire from competition to pursue a career after taking silver at national finals in Wellington over the weekend.
MacKenzie, who last month won gold in Masterton as overall North Island champion in the womens 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 NZ 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 caliber 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.”
Source: Wairarapa Times Age

Bodybuilding mum of Masterton, Rachel Mackenzie, has for the second year running taken out the North Island Championship in her class.
Mackenzie, before an audience of up to 400 people at Masterton Town Hall on Saturday night, won the title of overall womens figure after capturing gold in the womens figure short class and silver alongside husband Bevan Mackenzie in the mixed pairs section.
The region made a strong showing on the night despite sickness lightening the Wairarapa party of bodybuilders at the last minute and taking out at least two members of the squad leading up to the national qualifying event, which attracted 66 male and female competitors from across the North Island.
Other Wairarapa bodybuilders who won medals at the Masterton show included Christina and John Camps, Supry Sos, Sheryl Blade and Julie Buck, who also took a team’s trophy as a personal trainer.
Organiser Terry Hills said the top three competitors in each of the Masterton classes qualify for the NZFBB nationals in Wellington next month.
“Masterton was the penultimate qualifier for the nationals and that meant the number and quality of competitors was higher. We were very pleased with the turnout in terms of both audience and athletes, very pleased.”
Mr Hills said the North Island Championships would be next held in Masterton on June 27.
Gold medal and overall winners included Open Figure Short: Rachel Mackenzie; Open Figure Tall: Lisa Bellingham; Open Women Over 55kg: Ra Paku; Open Men 70-80kg: Supry Sos; Open Men 80-90kg: Steve Quinn; Open Men Over 90kg: Phily Nuku; Mixed Pairs: Phily Nuku & Hayley Freeman; Best Male Posing Routine: Aron Noble; Best Female Posing Routine: Maria Dunlop; Overall Women’s Physique: Ra Paku; Overall Figure: Rachel Mackenzie; Overall Men: Max Stott; Team: Julie Buck Personal Trainer.
Source: Wairarapa Times Age