This isn't a show report, I went to Edinburgh to support MuscleTalk moderator Kitty (real name Dawn Roberts); this is just my recollections of the weekend and her stunning 4th place finish.
The journey to the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation (BNBF) finals began back in January when Dawn began preparing for her first show of the year, the NPA Yorkshire. Her goal was to get back on stage again before she was 40 in December having competed in her 20s. I did her diet and training and dutifully she followed the plans, even though I could tell she thought I was crazy at times. Dawn took the stage in Holmfirth at the NPA Yorkshire and was not at her best, having had a week lost due to a bad cold she was at least that off, and placed last in the figure category. Two weeks later Dawn went to the BNBF in Manchester and picked up her invite to the BNBF finals. Only thing was she was advised to compete in physique not figure.
October 3rd would show whether we had successfully built a competitive physique for this new class. The week before Dawn sent me the last pictures, fully carb depleted she was right where she needed to be, this would be the last time I would see her physique before she walked on stage, and it would also be our first carb load. Of course, in principle the carb depletion-loading process brings a competitor into their best shape for the show, but if it goes wrong it leaves them way off and sometimes looking like they need a few more weeks of dieting just to add insult to injury. And it doesn't matter how much testing you have done, nothing replicates show conditions - I was nervous, and that was putting it mildly.
The Saturday before the show I drove north up the A1 from Newcastle to Edinburgh, stopping at McDonald's for breakfast I considered texting Dawn with "just had pancakes and syrup and thought of you". But I thought it would be nice to live to see the show after meeting her that evening. I arrived in Edinburgh just after and headed to the Zoo, as I drove across town I didn't envy Dawn, or more accurately her husband Dave, as they would be making the trip from Chorley via every service station as she started to dry out. Even though we had timed the bulk of the dry out to happen after their arrival the sodium load of 12 weeks and its sudden withdrawal would mean water wanting out with no regard to the proximity of a toilet! A great day at the Zoo took my mind away from the upcoming show but as the evening approached once again my stomach became a little unsettled.
Saturday night and we met, Dawn looked healthy and her face was still full. Once again everything just as it should be for that point in time. As I had thought their journey north had been one of jumping service stations, another good sign. Lots of good signs is good! It was time for dinner, for Dave, myself and my wife and son, Dawn however, had a diet plan to stick to and had that before we left. Her only indulgence would be a glass of wine. Unsurprisingly the upcoming show loomed large in the conversation.
Back to our respective hotels and I tried to get an early night, this has to be about the stupidest decision I have made this year. I also think that my body indulged in some sympathy toilet trips just too really unsettle me. A dark room at 2am is no time to be agonising over long gone diet details and nuances of training routine, but I did that all the same. I kept trying to tell myself, "the work is done, there is nothing you can change now and its all gone to plan" the only thing was, I wasn't listening to a word. At one point I was sure that the clock was taunting me by not changing the time, at 3am hotel rooms are no place to be an insomniac if you are married with a little lad. I had a look for my mp3 player even though I knew it wasn't there, and had a bite of pizza even though I wasn't vaguely hungry just for something to do. (And I have to say meaty edge from Pizza Hut is really quite nice cold.) Finally it was morning, and one rendition of what was the oddest interpretation of a full cooked breakfast I have ever seen later it was off to the University Theatre for the show.
In the taxi to the venue my stomach decided to practice its rhythmic gymnastics routine for reasons that were all its own. Dawn hadn't arrived yet, argh, this was not what I wanted at all. The only thing that was going to make me feel the slightest bit calmer was seeing her ready to go. Finally they arrived and it was on, straight away I could see the prep process had done its stuff. Her cheeks had pulled in and her face had the distinctive look of lean fullness that you see on every good competitor before they hit the stage. And then, the best news: "My abs made an appearance this morning!" All prep long Dawn's abdominals had refused to more than peek at best, and as she flattened out they just hid away, and at the BNBF in Manchester they had stayed that way. Putting icing on the cake was the fact Dawn had mastered the ab and thigh pose. Finally I felt confident that she was in better condition than Manchester - which was the primary goal.
Into the show and women's Physique was the last one of the day. Big thank you to the BNBF for their attempt to make me a complete nervous wreck. We covered the Ritz cracker process and dutifully Dawn nibbled her special protein bars and sipped the cranberry water so as not to use her allowance up and waited for the show. Dawn was bubbly without a hint of nerves, me I was a gibbering wreck by the time she went backstage. No amount of protein shake or kettle chips could make me feel calmer. Finally out they came with Dawn leading the way. Right there I wanted to shout my head off, on the money. All her hard work, the hours of cardio, the weights, the strict diet it had paid off handsomely. I sat back with a 10,000 watt grin. The placing didn't matter - stood on stage was the best Dawn - ever. Overcoming the urge to run round the auditorium and tell them how hard she had worked to get there and where she had started from in January I watched the prejudging.
At first the competitors did the symmetry round compulsories in numerical order, and then it was time for the call outs. In the callouts the first call out is the one that has the title contenders in it. And they called Dawn! In contention, great stuff. Throughout the round Dawn was worked hard consistently being compared to the established class leaders. By the time the muscularity round came my heart was doing about 180 bpm with excitement. By the end it was quelled. Dawn was in the 2nd call out and not compared to the same ladies as in the symmetry round. I really felt she deserved that look, but then again I would wouldn't I?
After the prejudging, despite the disappointing muscularity call out, I was on a massive high with the logical thinking capacity of a goldfish. Time for the night show. Dawn had slightly tweaked her routine, and once again put on a great show that easily contends for the best of the night, Time for the results. I hadn't dared think about her placing, judging is hard enough to predict, but when you are emotionally involved you just cannot tell. Then they called out 6th, not Dawn, then 5th. But this was someone who had looked ahead according to the callouts in prejudging. Oh no, no , no, surely not, no in the indefinite age between the announcement of 5th and 4th all I could think was - not placed. Dave and I looked at each other, and shook our heads, neither daring to say a word. This looked like being the result we had dreaded. Vicky McCann, the emcee, seemed to be waiting forever (in reality it was the same as before), "and in 4th place: Dawn Roberts!" and there was a silence, Dawn stood rooted to the spot, my brain seemed completely incapable of computing the sentence. Time stopped. Dawn's face said it all; "it's me, it's me, that's me that is! I'm 4th I better step forward", putting her hands to her face she stepped up to take the trophy and the cheers started with my wife before me and Dave cheered ourselves hoarse, with the crowd helping us along.
That was it 4th. The show moved on, the after party was attended, I've driven home at 5am and a week has gone by and still somehow the whole event lacks a certain reality. I am almost expecting to wake up and find its Sunday 2nd October and I am in Edinburgh with a show to attend.
Now its time to get ready for next year.