Dawlish News

Fit as a fiddle Ann Marie Rice has won a place in the Natural Body Building Finals next month - now she has to raise the money to get there.Rice, who is 42, and lives in Dawlish, took part in a qualifying round in Weymouth, where she finished third in the Miss Figure class.

A fitness instructor by profession who trains at Steve's Gym in Newton Abbot, Rice hopes to go to the finals in Scotland next month.

To get to Edinburgh she needs to raise £400, otherwise she can't afford to go.

"I'm completely skint after five months preparing for this and if I can't raise the money I can't go," said Rice.

"If I can get the sponsorship to go to the finals, and finish in one of the places, I get a pro's card and have the chance to get into the British team."

The money is needed to pay for transport, accommodation and the compulsory drugs tests insisted on by the Natural Body Building Federation.

Body building has had the shadow of steroid use hanging over it for years, but the NBBF is committed to stamping out drugs in its competitions.

"There used to be body builders in different classes who took steroids, thankfully those days have gone," said Rice.

Ann Marie can be contacted on email at amrfitness@yahoo.co.uk