Valley’s biggest losers weigh in

Joan Smyth and Barbara Beachman, from Nymboida, sign up for the Biggest Loser competition.

ALMOST 100 people from the Grafton area faced the scales at the Grafton Community Centre for the initial weigh-in of Clarence Valley Biggest Loser competition, organised by the Grafton Midday Rotary Club.

A grand total of 97 people weighed-in, which included 10 teams.

As in previous years the men were outnumbered by the women, with 79 female competitors and 18 male.

The combined weight of the competitors was 9034.3 kilograms which meant an average of 93 kilograms. The heaviest weight recorded on the day was 174.1 kilograms.

Rotary team leader and competition organiser Margaret McKenna has one goal in mind, and that is to show the youngsters in the competition how it is done.

“Our Rotary team is looking forward to the challenge of not just winning the competition but beating the Big W Bulge Busters.

“We know that Carly Wainwright is a very focused team leader and they have a great charity in mind but we want to win and show those youngsters that we older and wiser men and women can win,” Margaret said.

The Ravenous Rotarians team has an average age of 48 years, while the Big W Bulge Busters have an average age of 37 years. The Rotarians' average weight is also a little higher than the Big W Bulge Busters with 99.6 kilograms verses 84.8 kilograms.

“The Ravenous Rotarians and the Bulge Busters are matched with 50/50 male and female competitors,” Margaret said.

An added drawcard for the competition is free training sessions run twice a week.

“We may not be as young and agile as the Bulge Busters but we are relying on our commitment and knowledge. We look forward to meeting them at the first training session on Wednesday, 5.30pm, at Memorial Park,” Margaret said.