Bodybuilders show flex appeal at Jersey show

Friday 07 October 2022

Jersey bodybuilders have taken to the stage to show off their sculpted physiques - with one local competitor winning her overall class and being named best poser on the night.

Hollie Mcvittie won the overall ‘Figure’ class at the ‘PCA Jersey’ show, which was held at the Haute Vallée Theatre in front of a packed audience.

Hollie, a personal trainer at Fitness First, was the only homegrown competitor to win her overall class, as the event was open to non-Jersey athletes. 

Islanders Margot Clarke, Harry Woolley, Pola Lotta, Donovan de Klerk, Luke Stievenard and Sergio Pepe also competed in various classes at the show, which was run by the Physical Culture Association, one of bodybuilding's contest-organising federations.

Hollie said: “This was truly the best night if my life so far. I’ve been prepping for 19 weeks and training more intensely than I ever knew I could. You have to diet very hard for a bodybuilding competition to get the lowest bodyfat levels, but you still have to find the mental energy to train hard physically and carry out the cardio required to help burn off fat. 

Pictured: Hollie Mcvittie was the only local competitor to win her overall class - one of four - on Saturday night (Credit: PCA)

“It’s certainly more of a mental game, and you have to find strategies to stay positive: believe it or not, I like to watch YouTube videos of competitive eaters; watching them eat makes me feel like I’m eating all the cakes too!”

She added: “When they called my number and name as overall figure champion I couldn’t believe it. I’m always very nervous before stage, and never believe I could win so it was fantastic!! Looking back over the photos now I can see how much I’ve changed since my last competition, but at the time you don’t always see it yourself.”

As well as being one of four overall class winners on Saturday, Hollie also received an invitation to the British Finals in Telford on 16 October. If she places in the top four in her class, she will be invited to the PCA World Championships in Birmingham on 20 November. 

Hollie said: “It’s taken me five years but I’ve finally managed to win the local title, which means so much to me. Many people who came to watch the show this year were inspired to have a go themselves next year, and I would urge anyone to give it a try as a challenge to their own mental strength, discipline and to find out what they’re actually capable of.”

GALLERY