6 minute read
art at heart Pillar ofstrength
from South September 2020
by Times Media
Flex it like Hex!
Men of steel may need to be flexible but they don’t break easily. An injury during his first (and last) appearance for the Counties Manukau Steelers thwarted his rugby career but, years on, one gutsy local keeps proving that it’s impossible to keep a Glenbrook Steel Mill worker down, as JON RAWLINSON discovered.
Things are on the ‘up and up’ for Hona ‘Hex’ Kingi. With national records and titles under his belt, this accomplished sportsman has achieved much more than just raisingthe bar.
“I started powerliftingat Pukekohe High but stopped when I left school and focused on rugby. I actually still hold the national secondary school records for bench, squat and deadlift but it was only just a couple ofyears ago [2018] that I got backinto it, at masters level,” he confirms. “My bench press is 242kg, 330kgdeadlift and 300kgsquat –those are the current national records for my age category (40-45). They’re not too far offworld records too, but at this level, every extra kilo is pretty major.”
Oflate, Hexhas been busy raising cheers (as well as all sorts ofother things), competingin a range of strongman competitions.
“Strongman involves quite a few different events, from log lifts and trucktyre flips to truck pulls. Because there are heaps of events, it really tests your strength, overall, in a lot ofdifferent ways. For example, I’m pretty strongin deadlifts but, ifwe run with kegs, I’ll probably come last!” The Glenbrook Steel Mill driver says.
“I watched the Counties strongman competition [New Zealand’s Strongest Man Competition] at the A&P Show in Pukekohe last year. It looked like heaps offun.”
Since July last year, Hexhas claimed various accolades in strongman competitions, includingMasters’ division records in loglift and deadlift. The reigningMasters title holder in New Zealand’s Static Monsters Championships, he will pickup where he left offdefending his title on October 24 (all going well when it comes to Covid-19). The followingday he will be back in action at powerlifting’s GPC-NZ
Hex Kingi – set to defend his title.
National Championships.
“I compete in the GPC (Global PowerliftingAssociation),” he confirms. “I’m a natural [clean] athlete but I want to beat the biggest guys as it’s the ultimate challenge. I’ve never, in my life, taken them [steroids]; my dad used to say that ifI ever touched that stuff, even just once, I should always be considered a cheat.”
Much like boxing, there is no unified governingbody for powerliftingso athletes tend to favour one organisation’s competitions or another’s. Competitions usually feature three primary disciplines: squat, bench press and deadlift. Unsurprisingly, consideringhe still carries a knee injury from his rugby days, Hexis best when on the bench.
“Bench has always been my favourite; since I was a kid I did more ofthat. I’ve also had a knee injury since my rugby days but that doesn’t matter so much with bench press.”
Born and raised in Pukekohe, Hex’s nickname developed during childhood.
“Hona’s my real name but everyone knows me as Hex. It started out as ‘Hona Heke’, and was shortened to ‘Hex’.” IfHone Heke struckthe same burley figure as his modernday (near) namesake, I suggest, the Northern War would’ve been over before it began! the way Hexexpected duringhis younger years but it resulted in him venturingabroad and into more than just a few chip shops.
“I played a season for North Harbour in ‘99 –at prop, obviously! –then to the Steelers, but I broke my ankle in my first game so that was my season over. After recoveringfrom injuries I played a few years with Dudley Kingswinford in the West Midlands.
“My health was shockingwhen I came backfrom England because I had been eatingway too much –too many porkpies and Jaffa cakes!” he chuckles. “I had to do something about my weight so I started workingout at Counties Fitness.”
More than just helpingHex regain his ‘pre-pork-pie’ prop forward’s build, the Pukekohe gym encouraged him to go a few steps further.
“It worked out so well I decided to give bodybuildinga go. I did pretty well; I even won in my weight category at the national champs in 2007,” he reveals.
From weight loss efforts to bodybuilding, powerliftingand strongman competitions, Counties Fitness has backed this multidiscipline champ’ every step ofthe way; now aged 43, he still works out there most weekdays, especially when gearingup for a competition.
“It’s not all strength work; core work, endurance and other types of workouts are important too –you have to be fit all-round, especially for strongman. Counties Fitness has been great; they’ve been my sponsors right through,” he says.
“You can go as longas your body lets you in strongman. Some people compete right into their fifties so I have no plans to stop yet.”
A gifted actress, Gianni-Mia is also wellknown for her lead roles in school and Pukekohe Performing Arts productions. However, she cites her proudest achievement as making the callback list for an international audition where she was up against adult performers from musical theatre colleges across America.
Gianna-Mia in the spotlight at ACG Strathallan
Award-winningperformer, Gianni-Mia Attrill-Dowlinghas set her sights on the global stage and, with the support ofACG Strathallan’s dynamic performing arts department, she looks ideally placed to get there.
Since startingat the school four years ago, the talented singer and actress has flourished, makingher markon stage, both on and off campus.
“Comingto Strathallan really helped snowball my capabilities and I’ve improved so much as a performer,” says Gianni-Mia, who plans to study musical theatre at Griffith University in Brisbane.
“Many singers are not born with talent and instead have to work at it –I did. The arrival of[music teacher] Mr Mckay marked the beginningofmy vocal exploration. He built my confidence and entered our music class into all sorts of competitions.
“ACG Strathallan’s singingteachers are really fantastic and are so popular they have many people on their waitinglists.”
Since winningthe school talent quest with an original songin Year 9, Gianni-Mia has become a regular soloist at events. She has represented ACG Strathallan at numerous competitions and was part ofan ensemble who performed for an international school in Spain.
Agifted actress, Gianni-Mia is also well-known for her lead roles in school and Pukekohe Performing Arts productions. However, she cites her proudest achievement as makingthe call-backlist for an international audition where she was up against adult performers from musical theatre colleges across America.
Now ACG Strathallan’s arts and culture prefect, the Year 12 student is passionate about growingthe performingarts and ensuringit is accessible to all students at the school, even those with little or no experience.
“Performingarts at ACG Strathallan has come such a longway in the time I’ve been here. Ms Brady, our new dance and drama teacher, has contributed so much to growing the culture. With her help our arts council has established a dance movement group, wider interest in AS-Level Drama as a subject, a fantastic AS scripted performance, and great enthusiasm for all aspects ofdrama.”
“I feel so happy knowingthat the school’s performingarts culture will continue to grow under Mr Mckay and Ms Brady’s expert guidance. They have become my mentors and have made a permanent imprint on my teenage life.”
