UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007-11-07
A Report by UK's No.1 Women Pro Bodybuilder - SARAH BRIDGES
JUNIORS
1 Nathan De’saha Training Station Liverpool
2 Geraint Baldwin Fitness First Cardiff
3 Hasam Azizi Sugar’s Gym Leicester
4 Josh Shipway Keepers Fit Abergavenay
5 Luke Macheta Pinks Gym Carlshalton
Welcome to the UKBFF British Championships 2007.
An amazing year for bodybuilding with a record number of qualifiers; 253. It seems that all roads led to the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. The show was opened with the junior category. The line up was an amazing standard. This category is where the future of bodybuilding lies. If young men that had trained and dieted hard for this, all 10 came to win.. The judges finally narrowed it down to the top 5. Looking at the physiques, it was hard to believe that they were juniors. In the final pose down, all 5 were still fighting hard for 1st place. In the end it was a close win for Nathan De Asha. Nathan stay with it and I say this to all 5, you have a great future in our sport. 2nd was Geraint Baldwin, 3rd was Hasam Azizi, 4th was Josh Shipway and 5th was Luke Macheta.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
FIRST TIMERS
1 Shaun Tavenier Genesis Gym Wembley
2 Chris Bajak Gym One Luton
3 Jaun Arler Muscle Works London
4 Simon Ackroyd G’s Gym Mackersfield
5 Dean Esterhuizen Soho Gym London
2nd out, First timers. 11 competitors, many looked like seasoned competitors, a hard job for the judges to pick the top 5 from this line up.
The judges first call out numbers 16.19.25. All 3 finished in the top 5, so well done judges. But after many call outs, the top 5 were picked for the evening pose down. The standard of this B/C is improving every year. Not so long ago body builders carrying this amount of muscle were seasoned competitors. 1st Shaun Tavenier with very few weak points and boy was he happy with that result! A real close 2nd was Chris Bajak, 3rd Jaun Arler, 4th Simon Ackroyd and 5th Dean Esterhuizen
Lets hope we see all top in their categories next year.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
MASTERS OVER 40YRS – 49YRS
1 Marcus Braithwaite Extreme Fitness Leicester
2 Tony Hanson Cyril’s Gym Notts
3 Brian Connolly Betta Bodies Denton
4 Miles Ludlow Ministry of Muscle Kent
5 Stephan Ferrier David Lloyd Iepson
3rd Category - The Masters Over 40’s. An unbelievable line up. Who ever said that life begins at 40 was right. No middle age spread here, just 28 sets of six packs. Their condition was something to be proud of.
This is a much improved category; the judges had a hard time picking the 5 finalists. For the over forty’s a lot depended on their free posing and were we in for a treat! Tony Hanson posing to Tina Turners ‘Simply the Best’ hitting a pose at every beat with this, his homework paid off. Big Steve Ferrier captured the crowd as soon as he walked on staged. Great Robot and then into beat music to pose to. But the final judges score was 1st Marcus Braithwaite, 2nd Tony Hanson, 3rd Brian Connolly, 4th Miles Ludlow (who promises to be back next year bigger and better), and 5th Big Steve Ferrier.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
BODY FITNESS
1 Shalmieno Paper Esporta Peterborough
2 Clare Taubman Fitness First Fairham
3 Karen Norris Next Generation Cambridge
4 Magda Lipinski G’s Gym London
5 Tasha Coppett Soho Gym
4th Category Body Fitness.
This event is becoming more popular every year. 17 Girls turned up to become B/C. Each one a qualifier from show up and down the UK.The first time out on stage, the girls to a bikini round, 2nd round a one piece costume. The girls are judged on muscle tone and an overall assessment. A very popular category in Europe and the USA. 1st place Shalmieno Paper, 2nd Clare Taubman, 3rd Karen Norris, 4th Magda Lipinski and 5th Tasha Coppett.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
MASTERS OVER 50 YEARS
1 Dave Lamptey Metroflex Sidnam
2 Bernie Cooper Bernie’s Gym Cumbria
3 Bob Dawson Bodywize Hinckley
4 Martin Yates Brown Just Bodyworks Dumfries
5 Rob Young
5th. The Golden Oldie’s, If I dare say so. This category is for the over 50s.
What other sport can boast 9 athletes past 50 looking like this. The man that stole the show (you won’t believe this) was 71 year old Walter O’Malley. He was a crowd favourite over 50 years ago and nothing has changed. Some of these physiques looked like they belonged to a 25 year old and age didn’t matter, they all wanted to be 1st. So 9 contestants had to be cut to 5. The final 5 fought even harder.1st after a hard fought battle was Dave Lamptey who, in1982 won the B/C Intermediates. Not bad, ah still winning 25 years later… A close 2nd another great Bodybuilder Bernie Cooper, 3rd Bob Dawson, 4th Martin Yates Brown and 5th place went to Rob Young.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
INTERMEDIATE UP TO 80KG
1 Michael Smith Jays Gym Bolton
2 Mark Owen Fitness Studio Swansea
3 Evrol Copeland Metroflex Gym Sydenham
4 Michael D Lutman G’s Gym Macclesfield
5 Mat Godfrey Energise Malvern
2 Classes for the Intermediates; under and over 80KG.
First out, the under 80kg. By now even the judges were saying they couldn’t believe the standard of the 2007 B/C. Each of the 5 finalists brought something different. Whether it was muscle mass, condition or symmetry.
The winner bought some real class posing. 1st Michael Smith, 2nd Mark Owen, 3rd Evrol Copeland, both showing an all round package, 4th Michael Lutman had some arms and legs for a light heavy and 5th Mat Godfrey
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
INTERMEDIATES OVER 80KG
1 Jordan Jones Jeff’s Gym Bridgend
2 Mathew Keen Foundation Sandhurst
3 Patrick Williams Cinder Hill Gym Notts
4 Mark Parsley Mike Katz Gym Wigan
5 Asaad Nakhal Muscle Works Bethnal Green
The over 80 KG – another outstanding class. Some of these physiques would win categories. Lots of encouragement from the crowd for this class.
15 contestants to choose from and again another hard one for the judges. When the 5 finalists were names, the task to pick a winner got even harder.
Finally Jordan Jones took 1st place, 2nd Mathew Keen, 3rd Patrick Williams 4th Mark Parsley and 5th Asaad Nakhal.
A hard job I thought for the judges.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
CLASSIC BODYBUILDING
1 Sean Ferguson Physiques & Shapes Dorcester
2 John Heaton Total Fitness Wakefield
3 Helder Barroso Hot Bodies
4 Jason Colliway New Image Sleaford
5 Paul Daley Castle Gym Nottingham
UK First - Mens Classic Bodybuilding. The only category where your height measurements are taken. The judges are looking for less muscle in this class, more muscle tone. Many thought this Classic Class would take off, but the first year competitors, all top 5 finalists made an interesting pose down. Pushing and shoving to get the best position to pose for the Judges. So the First Classic Class, your 2007 winner was Sean Ferguson, 2nd John Heaton, 3rd Helder Barroso, 4th Jason Colliway and 5th Paul Daley. Interesting point, all 6 competitors came from the North of England, so come on the South!
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
UP TO 57 KG
1 Venetia Gloux Physic Warehouse East Molesey
2 Tracey Kiley Flex Lifestyle Uxbridge
3 Eileen Kirkwood Auchienhaven Stevenstone
4 Naz Noreen Pro Fitness Int. Black Heath
5 Jane Carter Tone Zone Yeovil
Hopefully 2007 is the turning point for female bodybuilding - under 57KG. 7 Contestants with some good physiques – best I’ve seen for some years. Judge Jackie Parish, former light weight B/C, also impressed with 2007 line up. Both 1st and 2nd gave a fine display of posing great routines. The 2 girls, that didn’t make the final shouldn’t feel bad - it was a strong line up, so Louise Facey & Mary Howard come back next year – we’ll look forward to seeing you! 1st went to Venetia Gloux, in terrific shape – one of the most graceful girls I’ve seen on stage for some time, 2nd Tracey Kiley who also gave us some great posing, 3rd Eileen Kirkwood, 4th Naz Noreen and 5th Jane Carter. Hopefully we will see all these girls next year. It was close girls so don’t give up.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
OVER 57KG
1 Aga Ryk G’s Gym Ealing
2 Jacqueline Reilly Castle Gallery Windsor
3 Xyleese Jane Richards Pro Fitness Worchester
4 Dionne Dixon Muscle Limit Brimsdown
5 Denise John Intrim Long Eaton
Women over 57K – again as in the U.57K a better standard and competitors. Some pleasing physiques in this line up which led to interesting finals line up. In the final pose down, it was Aga Ryk and Jacqueline Reilly that seemed to be posing against each other. Strangely enough, it was 1st Aga Ryk, 2nd Jacqueline Reilly, 3rd Xyleese Jane Richards, 4th Dionne Dixon and 5th Denise John. Aga stayed on stage for the final overall post down against Venetia Gloux. The gracefulness of Venetia won the day for her. First to congratulate her was Aga.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
UP TO 70KG
1 Terry Watson Forest Gym Crawley
2 Damien McBride Kelsey Kerridge Cambridge
3 John Orchar Prime Bodies Swindon
4 Brandon Marjoram Bodyshapers Kettering
5 Nav Sword Gold’s Gym Park Royal
70k Class has always amazed me, 70K=154 or 11 Stone. To have as much muscle at such a light weight is incredible. 12 top physiques for the UK, all battling for the top honours. After some hard judging, the final 5 hit the stage for the evening show, all with one thought – to take home the title. It was so close as to who would do it. Finally it was Terry Watson that took 1st place, close behind 2nd Damien McBride, 3rd John Orchar , 4th Brandon Marjoram and 5th Nav Sword
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
UP TO 80KG
1 Tom Bailey Muscle Health & Fitness Great Yarmouth
2 Nathan Selcon Galley & Castle Gym Windsor
3 Stephan Graham Sam’s Gym N.Ireland
4 Michael Hehir Powerhouse Gym Stoke On Trent
5 Glen Casey Emporium Gym Birmingham
The 80KG hit the stage with a WOW. The hardest class to judge so far. Anyone of the 14 contestants could become B/C. Every contestant must have been in the best shape of his life. The first call out of 164.165.169 – Judges on the ball with this. As after many call outs, those 3 finished 1st, 2nd and 4th. Carl McVittie, who didn’t reach the tops 5 on this occasion, gave us some real classic posing. After a hard fought class, the final 5 were picked. A lot of audience interest in the outcome of this category. The evening show lived up to its expectations. All 5 contestants must have though it was theirs. All with condition and packed with muscle. The final decision, 1st place Tom Bailey – the longer Tom was on stage the better he seemed to get. So he nosed ahead of 2nd Nathan Selcon, 3rd Stephen Graham, 4th Michael Hehir, and 5th Glen Casey. Not too many points separating these top. To present the trophies, IFBB John Hodgeson. This was John’s old category when he won the B/C.
UKBFF BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007
UP TO 90KG
1 James Lewis America Wales
2 James Llewellin Ministry of Muscle Aylesford
3 Barny Du Plessis Next Generation Bristol
4 Duane Creese Neils Pro Gym Tenby
5 Doug Kelly Metroflex London
Under 90K – This was the one everyone seemed to be waiting for and as this category walked out on stage, no one was disappointed. It looked more like a pro line up. You could wait for a decade to see another line up like this again. Judges had to go on overtime to sort this one out. Of course, all eyes went to James Lewis, last years winner and an outstanding junior now training in the USA. Then the whisper whet round ‘Look at James Llewellin’. I don’t think any one wanted to be a judge on this U.90 class. Every contestant deserves a mention so get in touch with UKBFF and treat yourself to a tape you will watch over and over. When you have men like Tom Blackburn that don’t make the final that gives you some idea of the very high standard that was shown at the 2007 B/C. I must have been asked dozens of times who the final 5 U.90K were. After some the time, the judge’s decision was: 1st James Lewis - his complete package plus excellent posing and a classic routine won the day, 2nd James Llewellin who also had an excellent routine making his music work for him, 3rd Barny De Plessis, 4th Duane Creese and 5th Doug Kelly. Also another outstanding posing routine who sadly didn’t make the final 5, was James Room