TWO Wyre Forest musclemen tasted success at the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s (UKBFF) North East tournament at Leeds Town Hall on Sunday.

Steve Knight, from Kidderminster’s Unique Fitness gym, won his weight category to qualify for the UKBFF’s British Championships this month.

Meanwhile, Far Forest teenager Chris Booton, 18, savoured an impressive debut with second-place in his category.

Booton was the youngest person in the under-21s section of the tournament but despite his tender years, he grabbed second place, after performing a series of poses and a routine to a remixed version of The Terminator theme tune.

Booton, who works as a lifeguard at the Sebastian Coe Health Club in Bewdley, trained for 12 weeks to get his body ready for the tournament.

The 5ft 11in tall former Lacon Childe School pupil lived on a diet of eggs, broccolli, turkey and protein powder, while working hard in the gym at the health club.

A self-confessed fan of seven-time Mr Olympia Arnold Schwarzengger, Booton was delighted to have made such a fine start to his body building career.

He said: “I joined the army as a junior recruit and when I left I still wanted to do something to keep up the discipline and keep fit.

“So I decided to start getting into body building.

“It was hard work to juggle work and training as the diet strips down all of the carbohydrates and doesn’t give you much energy but it was worth it to compete.

“I was the youngest person in my category and in the end I lost to someone who had more muscle than me.

“I had more definition than the guy who won but the judges made their decision.

“I will be working to add more muscle and win it next year.”

Booten was given help, inspiration and advice by Knight, Garth Bayliss, Rob Preston, Matt Drapkin.

He was also supported by the management and colleagues from work.

Alastair Day, who is leisure manager at Seb Coe, said: “We’ve been extremely supportive of Chris and his efforts.

“Chris is a lifeguard at the Seb Coe Health Club and despite feeling low on energy he never let us down.

“I think to finish second in his first tournament was incredible.”

Meanwhile, Knight, from Unique Fitnesses gym in Kidderminster, tasted victory in the under-80 kilograms category to ensure his place at the UKBFF British Championships in Nottingham on Saturday, October 22.

Weighing in at 78.8kg, Knight saw off six other oppeners in the men’s open to book his place.