Old Navy

2006 NPC Alabama State Championship, Saturday, August 26, Birmingham, Alabama

Prejudging

It's was nice to be able to come home after prejudging. This was the only show I've done in the city where I live. The 2006 NPC Alabama State Championship is held at the Als Stephens Center on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It's a nice venue, home of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. I had to laugh. Back stage looked like a Center for Disease Control lab. The walls and floor were covered with plastic wrap and tape to prevent the athletes from straining the place with oil and spray.

It was pretty big show with nearly 80 men and women competing. It is a National Qualifier. The first two Places in every class are eligible for two years to compete in the NPC Nationals.

As it is a NPC show, there was the usual sullenness and moodiness backstage one finds at these events. And, as usual at the larger ones, there was a medical team standing by.

I competed in the Open Men's Bantam Weight (143.25) Class with two 18-19 year olds. One was a standout. I thought I had a chance to place second, but will probably take third. They were fun to compete with. I met both of them last year at the NPC Southeastern Gold's Gym Classic in Gadsden, Alabama, where one competed as a teen and one a novice. Both weighed 137 pounds. I weighed 141.

I decided to compete in this NPC show because the promoter put in a Men's Master 60+ Class, "Just for you, Scott." And, in the program, the Men's Master 60+ Class is called, "The Old Navy Division 60+." He really did put it in for me. LOL

Both classes called for a 60 seconds posing routine without music. I have only done that once before. Some of the competitors in all of the classes were caught short by that call.

I competed against three others in the 60+ class. I felt I had placed first or second. My main competition was a 5' 6" man who weighed 199 pounds, nearly 60 pounds more than me, and I was standing next to him during the judging. Talk about BIG.

There were a few "typical" NPC incidents both on stage and back stage.

There was only one Men's Master 50+ entered, so they had him on stage with the 60+. He was standing on the other side of me and about a minute into prejudging, he collapsed on stage. Seems he did eat anything that morning nor drink any water. Our class had to leave the stage while the paramedics came on and hauled him away.

The 199 pound man on my right had a nose bleed back stage before pre judging. Seems he dieted down from 217 to 199 for the contest in about 10 days. I wonder how?

Three other athletes had to quit because of on-stage cramping and one other guy almost passed out.

Results

I placed Third in Open Men's Bantam Weights, as expected. I really enjoyed competing with these fine young athletes.

I placed Second in the Men's Master 60+ Class. As much as I tried, I couldn't overcome the 60 pound weight differential between the winner and me.

Nevertheless, by placing Second in this NPC National Qualifier, I am now eligible for the next two years to compete in the NPC National Master's Competition for a NPC Master's Pro Card. Unlikely, but it's fun to know I could compete at the NPC National level if I chose to. I am an NPC National Qualifier.

So, now I will put my two NPC trophies on the shelve and begin preparing for my next contest, the OCB Gulf States in Baton Rouge in three weeks.

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Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT
FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder
FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge

www.BodyBuildingSenior.com