Unfortunately, as Chris was hitting his stride in bodybuilding, the competition scene was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Chris remained focused, driven to follow through on his plan to take the Jr British title. The show was postponed, adding a gruelling extra seven weeks to Chris’ intense prep and diet. Then, just two days before the new show date, it was postponed again. Some competitors stopped prepping, but Chris was determined to keep going.
“We were going for a very big thing and I really, really, really, really, really wanted that thing! The British title was the main thing. We pushed on a further four weeks, and it got to the night before the show and my flight was cancelled. I felt like the whole world was against me! I ended up heading up to Glasgow, getting a flight to Bristol, then the owner of one of my sponsors, Liam from HR Labs, drove from Swindon to Bristol to pick me up. Then we had to drive the next morning to Leatherhead where the competition was. Liam even did my tan, and everybody was commenting on it, but it ended up a very good day.
“We were able to take the Junior British title, so that was the main thing ticked off, that was what we went for. That then put me into the overall competition in the show. So, I as the junior was going against lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight, teen, masters, all the classes basically. I took top spot, which meant I earned my pro status within bodybuilding. I was 22 at the time so it was quite a big deal. Then I was also allowed to go into the pro show, which is the main show of the night.
“That’s where people who have had their pro cards for years compete. They invited whoever got their pro status that day into the pro show that night. So it was like a pro debut for me on the same day. I just kind of went in with no expectations, just experience, to have fun, and again, I came out on top! So it was a straight win. It was crazy. I don’t think that day will ever sink in.”
For Chris growing up in Stranraer has taught him how to be thrifty with his resources. As a teen he spent all his money from his part time job traveling to gyms in other parts of Scotland to train, but he has come to prefer simpler set-ups.
“The hardest part of living in Stranraer was travelling. I used to spend a lot of money travelling to other gyms to train, or to shows. But now, if you take me to one of the biggest gyms in the UK, I’ll be looking for a basic exercise because I’ve been brought up with basic exercises. It’s all I’ve had access to at the Ryan Center. But I made it work because, when I was growing up I wasn’t in a position to just be like, right, I’m just going to move somewhere else!”
