This year was the 10th series of the 20 Weeks body and lifestyle competition. What an epic and amazing series it was. It was my seventh series and every year it just keeps getting bigger and better.

This unique competition showcases the individual journey of an entrant in pursuit of a mission they have chosen.

The judges recognise best changes in each category rather than just the best. It allows for anybody with a goal – big or small enter and do well. It allows trainers to offer a holistic style of training that can be tailored to an individuals needs.

Last week we celebrated 49 Leapstars completing in the Catch Fitness 20 Weeks Body and Lifestyle competition. It is my busiest month of the year. The last few weeks August involving testing and report writing, before submitting measurements, fitness tests, inside health check, testimony and photos to nationwide judging panel. Over two weeks they read every entrant across the country and decide the finalists and winners in 17 Categories. Then the entrants night of nights arrives. It is my most favourite night of the year as we see the transformation from the gym to the glamour and glitz they all deserve. We all attend a Black Tie awards function in the Grand Hall of the Chateau Hotel and then we take over a restaurant to celebrate the success of every LeapStar entrant.

There as simply no way we were missing out on the night. I never go in expecting winners or finalists, not because no one deserves one but simply because I believe every single one of my entrants has already won. I love celebrating their success and transformations. I am often asked who my favourite is or who do I expect to be a finalist. When asked I feel like a mother who is being asked to favour one child over another. It is a near impossible task as everyone has such a different set of results, a different set of circumstances that arrived them as a LeapStar, a different reason to share good news and celebrate their individual success. During the 20 weeks I get to see the transformation and bring it together in a judges report . I told the head judges this year, I am sorry if they are not in the correct order or we have submitted more than required, but I write my reports for my LeapStars to showcase their remarkable journey.

Last Monday night arrived into the Grand Hall and it looks exquisite – thank goodness I had waterproof mascara as the team looked amazing, and I kept hearing myself say “I did that, I helped shape that”. It was simply fabulous. I was so overwhelmed that I nearly missed our first finalists being named. What an evening, as were heading to the restaurant it was all surreal – We had seen Leap 18 LeapStars up on the big screen listed in 25 finalist spots We took home seven winners titles. I was totally overwhelmed in a uber proud and excited way. Then when the night seemingly couldn’t get much better it occured to me that this series the judges got us, they got what Leap was about in this milestone 10th series. They could see that we don’t do ordinary and we don’t focus only on weight donation. We focus on being healthier, fitter, stronger and happy from the inside and out. Seeing our entrants being acknowledged for that was the best feeling in the world.

Our finalists list is as follows with our winners underlined;
Adventure – Emma Alldridge
Balance – Anna Wright, Sarah Taylor and Guillermo Ocano
Cardiovasular changes – Rebecca Richards, Sarah Taylor, Dale Watson
Entrants Choice – Josephine Dove, Evan Taylor
Flexibility – Shannon Moore
Lifestyle – Dale Watson, Emma Alldridge
Maintanance – Bernadette Smith
New Mums – Sarah Taylor
Opals (Over 60s) – Cathryn McEwan
Overall Entrant – Lou McLeod, Kerrie de Haan
Strength – Amy Billingsly, Lou McLeod, David McLeod, Dave Race
Top Job (special mention) – Kerrie de Haan, Flora McCormack
Tutuman (Under 16) – Hannah MacDonnell
Upper Body – Evan Taylor

And we had a futher 31 other amazing entrants they also changed their lives and have opened new doors of opportunity. A special meniton to our entrants choice Wendy Davie who was voted by the tribe as an inpiration this series.

Congratulations to all our entrants and their support crews. We know your all all winners in some way in your own lives. And despite all the hard work, ups and downs, good bad and the ugly we will be back in April 2014 to do it all again and we hope you will be joining us 🙂