Believe it or not that is me on the far right. I didn't bother to shave or tan because I thought the standard would be shit.
At that time I was just about to leave the Blackwatch after spending 5 years as a master sergent in Berlin. At that time the Brits, Russians, Americans and Frenchies guarded checkpoint charlie on the east Berlin border, Happy Days.
That is not Jimmy Thomson onstage with Arnold at the 1964 Mr. Austria!
The contestant is actually Adolf Ziegner, who went on to compete in the NABBA Universe and the IFBB World's. The original contest report for the 1964 Mr. Austria is in issue 21 of Der Muskelbilder, which has more pictures of Ziegner. Jimmy's name doesn't appear in the report and Jimmy isn't any of the other contestants in that photo either. Neither does Jimmy appear in any of the two dozen or so onstage and backstage photos that have survived from the three contests held that day. The contests were held in Graz, Austria. Quite a way from Berlin.
Would a British citizen be allowed to enter the Mr. Austria anyway?
Perhaps it was another contest in Graz or Germany that Jimmy entered. If he lets us know, I'll be happy to look it up.
The picture was posted by Harald Maurer (2nd from right in the line-up).
http://www.mahag.com/harry/spo.htm Another line-up pic on Harald's site has Ziegner standing front and centre.
Arnold was defeated in 4 contests in 1964/5.
1964 Mr. Steiermark (4th place, 26th April, Graz). Harald Maurer won.
1964 Mr. Herkules (3rd place, 26th April, Graz). Helmut Cerncic won.
1964 Mr. Austria (3rd place, 26th April, Graz). Marnul won.
1965 Mr. Austria (not 1st, Spring, Graz). Arnold's placing unknown, Marnul won.
There may have been another contest in 1965, which Arnold may have won but that hasn't been confirmed yet. Arnold didn't compete in 1963.
