A COLLEGE teacher flexed his muscles to cap off a return to the bodybuilding circuit and claim the Mr Cumbria title.

Chris Clayton, who trains at Flex Appeal Gym in Barrow, began competing again two years ago after an eight-year hiatus and said the victory was the highlight of his career.

“The standard wasn’t as great as I thought it was going to be but I’ve got the title” said Mr Clayton, 36, of Folkestone Avenue, Walney.

“As soon as the Mr Cumbria organiser put the trophy online I thought: ‘I’m having that, it’s got my name on it’.”

In recent months he has finished runner-up in Mr T’s Olympia at Rotherham and at a PCA (Physical Culture Association) show in Manchester.

And he finished second in a PCA event at Whitehaven, which also held the Mr Cumbria show, behind a bodybuilder who had just become a professional.

And last Sunday, the former Thorncliffe School pupil was competing in the PCA national finals at Birmingham.

“I didn’t think for one second I would be back competing,” he said.

“I’ve done about eight shows and been second place all the way through until I finally won Mr Cumbria.”

Mr Clayton, who teaches engineering at Furness College, paid tribute to the support he received in the early stages of his career from the late Bill Hemsworth, of Furness Health Studios.

“I always said to Bill: ‘If I ever do Mr Cumbria I am going to make sure I am going to win it’,” said Chris.

“That was one of the reasons I really wanted to do it.

“Bill used to push me and his grandson really hard to the point where we were on our knees.

“You’ve got to be 100 per cent in whatever you are doing in this sport.”

He said all the hard work, including adhering to a strict diet and training for two hours a day, was worth it when he gets on to the stage.

“The first couple of times I was nervous but not anymore,” said Chris, whose first show was back in 2004.

“I love being up there because you’ve worked so hard to get to that point.”

He said he hoped he can use his experiences to inspire others to take up the sport.

“I think bodybuilding is a dying sport so I’m hoping to get more people into it,” he said.

“Bodybuilding teaches goals and discipline.

“People take food for granted but when you have to stick to a diet it makes you appreciate it more.”