| A BODYBUILDER from Sale Weight Training Club has | | | | Walton Park has been in the balance for a couple of |
| won his first major event in America. | | | | years now, and despite having received a very |
| Competing in the OCB Yorton Cup - a natural | | | | generous grant for £500,000 from the council, we |
| bodybuilding championship held in Washington DC last | | | | are keen to hear from both them and Trafford |
| month - a 30-year Darren Vernon scooped the main | | | | Community Leisure Trust that development plans that |
| title, the coveted IFPA Men’s International Pro | | | | are on the table will be rubberstamped very quickly." |
| Yorton Cup. | | | | Having started sculpting his body some 12 years ago, |
| Competing against professional bodybuilders from | | | | Darren gained his pro card when he won the |
| countries worldwide, the title is the first Darren, pictured, | | | | men’s overall title at the British Bodybuilding |
| has secured away from home soil. | | | | Championship earlier this year in Glasgow. He is also |
| He said: “It was great to lift what is, in bodybuilding | | | | the 2007 and current BNBF northern men’s |
| circles, a well recognised world title. What’s more, it | | | | middleweight champion. When not at Sale Weight |
| will hopefully give me the springboard to go on and | | | | Training Club he works as an architectural technologist |
| compete in the flagship Mr Universe competition next | | | | with TaylorWimpey. |
| year that is being held in Barbados.” | | | | Brooklands ward councillor Kathy Bullock said: “I feel |
| His success is a major boost to Sale Weight Training | | | | so proud that Trafford has played a major role in |
| Club, which is in the process of trying to secure the | | | | Darren’s inspirational achievement, identifying just |
| future of its base at Walton Park, that has provided a | | | | what takes place and is on offer for everyone at |
| number of bodybuilding champions in its 25-year | | | | Walton Park Sports Centre. |
| history. | | | | "I fully support the long awaited refurbishment of their |
| Vice chairman and one of the founder members of | | | | building and trust that this will now happen without |
| the club, Harvey Jacques, said: “The future of | | | | further delay, it is exactly what they deserve. |