A popular gym-owner has triumphed in Cumbria’s top bodybuilding contest days after his 70th birthday.

Alan Moore, who runs Workington’s Intrim Fitness, flexed and posed his way to victory in front of a packed house in Wigton’s Greenhill Hotel.

And in a poignant moment, the emotional pensioner dedicated his win in the over 60s category to his younger brother Jim who died earlier this year following a brief illness.

It was also something of a double victory, with Russ Crone who trains in Alan’s gym winning the coveted overall title of Mr Cumbria.

Mr Moore and his protégé will now go on to compete for the British title in their respective categories in Gateshead next month [June 10].

The gym-owner, who believes that his age and experience are an advantage not a handicap, said: “A lot of careful thought goes into preparing for an event like this.

“I have been doing this for 50 years. You could say that this victory has been half a century in the making.

“Anything worth achieving takes time. If you get it quickly with little or no effort then it isn’t really worth it. This is for my brother Jim. We were very close.”

Whoops and cheers erupted from a very vocal crowd when a mahogany-tanned Mr Moore posed on stage to John Miles’ ‘Music was my first love’, showing off a physique that was in better condition than some competitors half his age – and, at the same time, bringing a touch of class to the event.

Russ Crone, a 37-year-old service manager at Edgars, proved a popular winner in a close-fought contest, winning the under 85 kilograms title before going on to clinch the title.

Speaking immediately after his victory, he said he “couldn’t believe he had won”.

“I’m just amazed,” he said. “I didn’t expect it. All the hard work has paid off.”

The quality of the competition – including Jordan Smallwood of Workington – was so fierce that judges had Mr Crone tied for the top spot three times before awarding him the victory.

The Mr and Miss Cumbria contest in Wigton’s Greenhill Hotel was the most well-attended show in the history of the event, with more spectators and competitors than ever before.

It was organised by the International Bodybuilding Fitness Association (IBFA) and its British president Martyn Yates Brown of Aspatria’s Yates Evolution 2 Gym.

He described it as the “biggest and best show” so far, with more than 50 competitors.

He added: “From a personal point of view, I was particularly happy for Frances Eilbeck from Aspatria who won the overall Miss Cumbria title.”