Versatile couple ready to take on the world
"Now it's probably a dream come true. I can go and compete at a world championships and represent New Zealand." Andy Mcdonnell
Roller skates and stripper heels are not commonplace in most Manawatu households. But they are if you live with Palmerston North family the Mcdonells, though, with husband and wife Andy and Brenda Mcdonell off to Italy this week to represent New Zealand in speed skating and bodybuilding, respectively.
Andy, 55, is competing at the world masters speed skating championships in L’aquila, north east of Rome, this weekend and Brenda, 52, is competing at the INBA natural world bodybuilding championships in Rimini, on the northern part of Italy’s east coast, next week.
Brenda qualified by winning at the women’s 50 plus physique grand masters category at the INBA Natural Olympia at Las Vegas in November.
She has been to the world championships before, but that was when she was competing in a different federation.
‘‘At the end of last year I realised the world championships for the natural bodybuilding were going to be were in Italy,’’ she said. ‘‘I’ve always wanted to go back to Italy.
‘‘I went in 1990 something or whatever, and I was representing New Zealand in Malta and I always wanted to go back. It just turned out this was at the same time.’’
She said she is the only Kiwi bodybuilder going and it is a big deal for her.
She will compete in the physique women’s 50 plus and open physique women’s categories.
Because it is natural bodybuilding, contestants undergo blood and urine testing.
Brenda does all her own training and works with Auckland nutritionist Giselle Mccartney.
The Mcdonell’s food bill has crept up because they both have to watch what they eat.
Andy qualified for the world championships, where he will race in the 42km marathon, by winning five gold medals and a silver in his 50-60 age group at the Oceania championships in Brisbane at Easter.
‘‘[Italy’s] not going to come around again,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s going to be an amazing trip.’’
Also in the New Zealand skating team is Christine Davies from Wanganui and Brett Mccormack from Dunedin.
‘‘I always wanted to compete for New Zealand,’’ Andy said. ‘‘That’s going right back to my early days.
‘‘I got my chance at Easter time to go to the Oceania championships. Now it’s probably a dream come true.
‘‘I can go and compete at a world championships and represent New Zealand.’’
Andy goes to the gym occasionally, but as a bodybuilder Brenda has a morning session, then does a couple of hours each night, six times a week.
The couple are both in their second coming in their respective sports. Brenda came out of retirement last year after 17 years away, having been a national title holder in the 1990s, but gave up to focus on family.
She came back to get into shape again and wanted a goal.
Andy started again five years ago after a 28-year hiatus. He gave up when the sport changed its skates, but got back involved in 2012 when trying to get his son to skate.
Brenda and Andy run Manawatu Auto Bodies and have two kids, aged 21 and 16.