Pumped up for nationals; McCutcheon forced to climb ladder again after stumbling in 2006
Date: 04-07-2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamCanada |
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Rick McCutcheon isn't just Sudbury's biggest man.
Since late last month, he's officially the province's most hulking mass of muscle as well.
McCutcheon strutted to first place in the super-heavyweight division at the 2007 Ontario bodybuilding championships two weeks ago in London, claiming a provincial championship that eluded him two years ago when he went on to finish fourth nationally.
He was runner-up provincially in 2005, and had also been runner-up at the Northern Ontario championship earlier that summer.
"I was a little astonished," he says of winning the championship in London on June 23. "I'm so used to coming second, when my name was called, I almost didn't believe it."
McCutcheon is now training six to seven hours every day for his second shot at nationals Aug.
18 in Edmonton.
McCutcheon's fourth-place performance in his first run at the title of Mr. Canada in 2005 led to a national ranking and automatic berth in the 2006 nationals. However, a win at provincials was something he wanted badly - so badly he made the mistake of competing while sick in 2006.
"I didn't have to compete, but I wanted to be Mr. Ontario," McCutcheon says. "I shouldn't have."
That decision led to a disappointing placing and the Sudburian lost his national ranking and his berth in the Canadian championships.
That forced him to start this season near the bottom of the ladder again. He took first at the regional level, before finally winning at the provincial level.
What's also remarkable is the massive 41-year-old Sudbury man claimed the 225-pound super-heavyweight title while also winning the masters category for competitors 40 and older.
"You really don't hear of a 40-year-old man winning super-heavyweight," McCutcheon says. "It was a good feeling for me." The recent success has bulked up McCutcheon's confidence.
"I feel I'll be the masters champion of Canada, no problem," he says. "And I feel I'll be the super-heavyweight champion. I've never been as heavy or as hard as I am right now."
The unfortunate part of packing so much mass on his five-foot-11 frame is the cost of his sport. Beyond the costs of competitions, a month's grocery bill for McCutcheon runs around $3,000.
He says he has been fortunate to have the support of local sponsors and businesses, like Shaughnessy's Pub and Grill, which is hosting a fundraiser on July 14.
Fittingly, the main attraction for that night will be McCutcheon. The bodybuilder will perform a routine on a stage in the middle of the pub.
He hopes to be the main attraction in Edmonton as well.
"Ontario has the biggest men in the country normally, so judges will be looking for me now that I've won Ontarios," he says.
