A BODYBUILDER from Sale Weight Training Club has won his first major event in America.

Competing in the OCB Yorton Cup - a natural bodybuilding championship held in Washington DC last month - a 30-year Darren Vernon scooped the main title, the coveted IFPA Men’s International Pro Yorton Cup.

Competing against professional bodybuilders from countries worldwide, the title is the first Darren, pictured, has secured away from home soil.

He said: “It was great to lift what is, in bodybuilding circles, a well recognised world title. What’s more, it will hopefully give me the springboard to go on and compete in the flagship Mr Universe competition next year that is being held in Barbados.”

His success is a major boost to Sale Weight Training Club, which is in the process of trying to secure the future of its base at Walton Park, that has provided a number of bodybuilding champions in its 25-year history.

Vice chairman and one of the founder members of the club, Harvey Jacques, said: “The future of Walton Park has been in the balance for a couple of years now, and despite having received a very generous grant for £500,000 from the council, we are keen to hear from both them and Trafford Community Leisure Trust that development plans that are on the table will be rubberstamped very quickly."

Having started sculpting his body some 12 years ago, Darren gained his pro card when he won the men’s overall title at the British Bodybuilding Championship earlier this year in Glasgow. He is also the 2007 and current BNBF northern men’s middleweight champion. When not at Sale Weight Training Club he works as an architectural technologist with TaylorWimpey.

Brooklands ward councillor Kathy Bullock said: “I feel so proud that Trafford has played a major role in Darren’s inspirational achievement, identifying just what takes place and is on offer for everyone at Walton Park Sports Centre.

"I fully support the long awaited refurbishment of their building and trust that this will now happen without further delay, it is exactly what they deserve.”