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Locals take top honours at bodybuilding provincials

Estevan sent a massive contingent to the Saskatchewan Amateur Bodybuilding Association's novice and provincial championships on the weekend in Regina. Three local bodybuilders earned first place in their respective divisions.
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Brittany Foot


Estevan sent a massive contingent to the Saskatchewan Amateur Bodybuilding Association's novice and provincial championships on the weekend in Regina.

Three local bodybuilders earned first place in their respective divisions.

Alden Hagel was first in the men's heavyweight category, Brittany Foot was first in the women's bikini tall division and Dana Barlow won the men's grand master division.

It was the second straight provincial win for Barlow, who was first in the welterweight division last year.

It was Foot's first trip to provincials, or even the novice competition for that matter, and she said she didn't expect to win.

"I've gone and watched them before, but it was my first time competing. I had a lot of hard work and an amazing coach that helped me, but I was actually really surprised at winning first," said Foot.

She got to provincials on Saturday by winning the division at the novice championship on Friday.

Foot said she decided to get into bodybuilding after seeing her boyfriend compete last year.

"It was just kind of a goal of mine, seeing everyone in shape and healthy, I had a goal set for myself and I wanted to see how well I could do it," she said.

"I was at the gym seven days a week, two or three hours a day there. I did that for about eight weeks. I met with my coach every week to see how the progress was coming and she made her changes as the week went on."

The lowest score in each division wins, and Foot had a score of six, with the next closest competitors scoring 12.

She said the large group of Estevan bodybuilders - 15, to be exact, including four who had qualified for provincials directly after having competed there in the past - gave her an extra boost of confidence.

"I was a little more comfortable back there, not quite as nervous with (fellow Estevanites) there."

Foot's plan now is to compete at nationals either this year or next year.

Hagel scored six in the heavyweight division, beating his only competition, Greg Winteringham, who scored nine.

Barlow was the unanimous winner in the grand master division, scoring five points as opposed to the next closest score of 10.

Barlow also finished in second place in the middleweight class, scoring nine as opposed to the winner's six.

Other locals at the provincials were Judy Istace, who was third in the master women's division and fourth in the women's bodybuilding category; Chalsey Anderson, who was third in the women's figure tall division; Kalita Block, who was fifth in the women's bikini tall division; and Melissa Schactel, who was sixth in the women's bikini short division.

Meanwhile, Estevan sent 11 bodybuilders to the novice championship on Friday, which served as a qualifier for provincials.

Istace was second in the master women's division with a score of 11, six more than the winner, and also took second in women's bodybuilding, again with a score of 11.

Anderson finished second in the women's figure tall division with a score of 14, eight more than the winner.

Three other locals competed in the women's bikini tall category. Sandi Kofoed was fifth, Erin Beaulieu was sixth and Brooke Whitman-Roberts finished 10th.

Chris Istace finished sixth in the men's lightweight division, although his score tied for fifth and the tie was broken by the head judge.

Shanda Tegart was sixth in the women's figure short category, and John Kot was eighth in the men's light heavyweight division.

Hailey Pehl placed 12th in the women's bikini medium category and Jennifer Olfert was 14th in the women's bikini short division.