A BLACKPOOL body-builder has muscled her way into the final of a national competition and says she is hoping to improve on last year's feat.

Standing in front of 800 spectators and television cameras, Sarah Linton will perform in the English Federation of Body-Builders British Championship finals on Sunday (October 17) in Nottingham for the second year running after qualifying from the regional heat in Manchester last month.

Last year, despite only having been competing for three years, the 26-year-old aerobics co-ordinator from Vicarage Lane, Blackpool, came third. This time she's aiming for the top.

Sarah, who works out at the Bodymasters Fitness Centre owned by her training partner Steve Daly, said: "Last year's result was absolutely fantastic and I was over the moon. But this year I'm hoping to go two places higher and walk away with the title. "I wouldn't say I'm one of the favourites in the competition, but I certainly think I've got a very good chance of doing well.

"Having a training partner who owns a gym is handy to say the least. I do two one-hour sessions in a day, six days a week."

But Sarah is keen to explain the competition is not simply about brute force.

"It's much more of a complete package and is very hard work," she said.

"There's a fitness round, a bikini round, an aerobics ability round and a one-piece swimsuit round. It's a great feeling to enjoy the rush of competition - there's a real buzz about. This is the body building competition to win and there will be a lot of people there. But last year will hold me in good stead."

If Sarah wins she will receive an International Federation of Body Builders card, earning her the right to travel and compete abroad.

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