Abington man 2d in wheelchair weightlift contest

McClay places in the masters division as championship has first run in N.E.
By Emily Sweeney, Globe Staff  |  October 22, 2006

John McClay of Abington took home a trophy in the 2006 USA Wheelchair Bodybuilding Championship this month.
McClay, who trains at Gold's Gym in Braintree, was one of four contestants to participate in the contest on Oct. 7 in Derry, N.H. He earned second place in the masters division (ages 35 and older) and fourth place in the heavyweight division.

This was the first national wheelchair bodybuilding event held in New England, according to Dave Follansbee, district chairman of the National Physique Committee.

The USA Wheelchair Bodybuilding Championship originally was scheduled to be held in June in New Orleans but was cancel ed because the venue had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Follansbee said he offered to host the event in New Hampshire, and a handful of bodybuilders traveled to Stockbridge Theatre at Pinkerton Academy to participate.

``It was a much lighter turnout than I anticipated. . . . We only had four guys," Follansbee said.

There were no entries in the women's division, he said. McClay was the only contestant from Massachusetts; the other contenders hailed from Indiana, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

The championship is to return next summer to Louisiana.

Complete standings and photos from the event may be viewed online at npcnewengland.com/2006usawheelchair.htm.