The Italian Job - European success for Mansfield Woodhouse bodybuilders

The IBFA Mr Universe and Mr Europe competition took place in Europe over two days on September 19 and 20, and three athletes that train at Angel’s Gym in Mansfield Woodhouse were victorious.

Andy Batty, 56, Andy Lawley, 58, and Angel’s Gym owner, Nigel Goundry, 54, travelled to Sapri, Italy on the weekend to represent Great Britain and show off their muscular physiques in their respective categories in the competition, one of the world’s biggest bodybuilding competitions.

Andy Lawley achieved an extremely impressive first place in the Over 55’s Mr Universe competition, and achieved second place in Mr Europe.

Nigel Goundry achieved second place in both competitions in the over 50’s category, with Andy Batty also achieving second in both competitions in the Master’s Athletic category.

Both Andy Lawley and Nigel Goundry have been competing for many years, but this year, because of the pandemic, the event was slightly different.

Andy Batty said: “It was held in Sapri in Italy and it should have happened in July.

“It would normally be held on the beach front but they held it in the theatre instead.

"There are mainly contestants from France, Italy and the UK, but with Covid there were quite a few that were exempt from being allowed to travel.

As a relative newcomer, originally just training to keep fit, Andy Batty has only been competing for three years, and so success on the European stage is a real achievement for the 56-year-old.

However, gaining this success takes an ‘intensive’ training routine and diet programme, with many gruelling months of preparation before the big event.

Andy said: "It is 12-16 weeks strict diet and training to prepare for it, and then the shows are where you step on to the stage to show your muscular physique, so it lots of posing.

"It is very energy zapping, the diet itself – you are in calorie deficit for two/three months of the year so it really takes it out of you.

"It is hard but you set your mind in the goal at the end of it and that’s what gets you through.”