Kettlebell John wrote:
> Curt wrote:
> > Met two bodybuilding greats after the Mountain Valley Championship held
> > in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA, yesterday, October, 28, 2006.
> >
> > Markus Rühl, 8th place at this year's Olympia and 3rd spot in the
> > Austrian Grand Prix event, was the guest poser while Bill Grant, former
> > Mr. America and Mr. World, was the contest's emcee. Both were very
> > generous with their time and graciously posed for pics (see links
> > below).
> >
> > If you're a fan of '70s bodybuilding then you'd do well to visit Bill
> > Grant's website: http://www.billgrant.net
> >
> > To mark the occasion, I drew an illustration of Markus and made some
> > copies which he accepted as a gift. Rühl signed the original. No
> > certificate of authenticity as it's not meant for eBay, but instead
> > this fan's memento of meeting a hyooog competitor with an even bigger
> > sense of humor than he has muscles. Rühl is incredible in his DVD,
> > _Rühl: Made in Germany_: http://www.ruhl-movie.com/homeen.htm
> >
> > And he said he has another DVD coming out in December. I complimented
> > him on his wife (and training partner in "Made in Germany") Simone's
> > condition in the DVD, but he said she is smaller now and that he is big
> > enough for both of them.
> >
> > http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../BB/markus.jpg
> > http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/BB/grant.jpg
> >
> > A great evening put on by promoters Brenda, Jack, Craig, et al.
[...]
> Cool stuff Curt.
Thanks, John. It was cool. The contest was held at The Riveredge
Complex on Bernville Road in Reading, PA, USA. The same promoters ran
it last year. Their guest poser was Jay Cutler. It's a relatively small
show, but with incredible talent and ogranization. Grant lives in
Jersey, but Cutler is out Schuh's way. And this year's guest poser is
from across the Atlantic!
They offered ten-dollar tickets for prejudging, $25 for the evening
show, but also included an offer of $60 VIP seating which included the
front two rows for prejudging and finals along with a contest t-shirt,
"goodie bag," and a photo with Markus.
The show t-shirt has bodybuilding.com plastered across the shoulders
with an additional 22 sponsors, including
www.AbulousMeals.com/,
www.PhillyBodybuilding.com/, and
www.WorldGymReading.com/ listed below
that.
The promoters reached beyond the bodybuilding community as well,
apparently, as the 22 sponsors also included a paving company, a nail
studio (not the one where Ryan and Titus were busted, though), a
jeweler, a bar and grill, and an auto mechanic.
They had a 16-page color program with ads for the sponsors plus a
biography of Markus, of course a listing of all the competitors but
they included a brief commentary from each bodybuilder and figure
contestant as well. An example is, "I would just like to thank
everybody who helped me and supported me through my training."
Some of the athletes wrote something akin to an Oscar acceptance
speech. Very cool indeed.
In addition to contestants and sponsors, the program listed judges,
photog info,
www.AdonisProductions.iwarp.com/, and videographer and DJ
info. Last but not least, the promoters even included a "Very Special"
thank you to the spectators, competitors "(those brave enough to
compete)," volunteers, and staff. A class act all around, imo.
Forgot the front of the t-shirt which included the NPC logo, a muscular
cartoon hawk with a bent barbell in its talons, the competition name,
location, and guest poser, plus two more sponsor adverts.
I should've purchased a cookie while I was there. Michelle of
www.MichellesMajesticMuscle.com/ and Michelle's Magic Morsels was
promoting her wares. If you're on Front Street in Philly, you should be
close enough to smell oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and chocolate chip
cookies mde with whey protein, eggs, vegetable oils, etc.
That's my book on the subject. If you've never attended a contest,
well, imo, you're really missing out.
> John
--
Curt
NPC Mountain Valley Championship 
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