LIZ RICHARDSON ALL SET FOR €25,000 MALTA ELITE PRO

UK bikini fitness pro Liz Richardson is preparing to fly to Malta to take part in this weekend's €25,000 IFBB Elite Pro event.

The event, which also includes an IFBB Diamond Cup Elite Pro qualifier, provides athletes with another opportunity to accrue points for this year's €200,000 World Championships.

The IFBB Malta Elite Pro is the second of this year's European Elite Pro events.

The €44,000 President's Cup in Greece began the Elite Pro season in Europe just over a week ago.

Next up after Malta are the €18,000 Elite Pro Slovakia from April 13-15 and the $34,500 Elite Pro Madrid from May 26-27.

Spring shows further afield include the $80,000 Arnold Classic Africa and the $24,000 Asian Elite Pro in Mongolia. The 10 category winners in South Africa also get three nights of accommodation paid for.

With prizes like these, competitors are increasingly realising the opportunities the IFBB Elite Pro series offers.

Liz, who had the distinction of becoming the UK's first Elite Pro last year, is one of 10 competitors from nine different countries to have registered so far for the bikini fitness class in Malta.

Liz said she was happy with the small changes she's made to her physique during her short off-season.

“My ultimate goal is to win,” she says. “That first place would mean more to me then the prize money, although obviously that would be a nice bonus!”.