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On the 28th May, we made the annual trip to the EFBB SE Show at the Beck Theatre in Hayes. For the first time in many years the theatre was not full. This may have been because many people seemed to have had some difficulties in obtaining tickets and with experience of previous years, if you have no ticket you do not bother going.
The Show was disappointing in many respects with yet again a lack of competitors and overall it has to be said that the standard was not as good we would expect. This is not a criticism of those who did enter but more a criticism of those who did not. There were a few notable exceptions. It is difficult to get very enthusiastic about a contest covering the whole of London and the South East which can only mange to rustle up a total of 32 competitors in 11 classes.
Juniors
Shawan Ali from Genesis Gym won on his condition. Luke Macheta from Pinks Gym at Carshalton in 2nd place had a more mature looking physique and is an excellent prospect but today he needed to be harder. Blake Rumfitt David Lloyd’s at Maidstone was 3rd but with no posing routine!!
First Timers
This was the best class of the day with 7 competi tors and a good overall standard. To me Ion Avasilicai from Muscle Works was an easy winner. He looked like he had been training for 10yrs+ with a very mature look to his upper body with immense arms, delts and traps; his back was awesome with thickness, condition and an elaborate Christmas tree. Any weaknesses? Yes. He needs buckets of mass on his legs and then he will take some beating at any level. In 2nd was Peter Thorne from Fort Galaxy in Ilford. He had a good shape and a very well balanced physique. The 3rd man was Thomas Kudelis, also from Muscle Works. He had good size and OK on condition. Not the most aesthetic body but a lot of potential.
Intermediates
U80 Kg had Bobby Khan from Gallery Health Club in Windsor as the only competitor. He has a classic physique with wide shoulders and a tiny, tiny waist. He smiled all the time and seemed to enjoy competing. Pity that he did not have someone to really go up against.
O80 Kg was a win for Darren Cousins from Muscle Works. He is still improving but I think the tattoos are a bit of a distraction. He was in very good condition. The 2nd was Safir Majid from Fort Galaxy. He needs muscle mass on the shoulders and legs to counter a wide[ish] waist.
Women’s Classes
Again there were few women competitors. In the Bodybuilding Veronika Kallo won the U 57 Kg. She has a pleasing shape but, to me, she looked hungry. Veronika you need to eat. Amanda Barrett was O 57 Kg and displayed a good shape and very full muscles.
There were four girls in the Figure Class and after a long series of comparisons they placed Caroline Thomas from Body Limits in St Albans in 1st with Angie Ward from Weights Room Dover and Annabell Montalto from Ballantine’s in Chingford in joint 2nd. Tina Ward from Challenge Active in Bishops Stortford was 4th. All the girls looked good to me but I do not understand what the judges are looking for. I think I would have chosen the same winner but for the others I was not sure — based only on my criteria.
U 70 Kg
This was a win for Nav “The Sword” Almashan from Genesis Gym with a nice shape and spot on condition. Massimo Riccio from Cheetahs in Hove was 2nd with a good solid physique but he could have been harder and this let him down on the day. Dave Thomas from Flex in Newbury was 3rd and he also needed to be harder.
U 80 Kg
This class was not of the standard we have seen in recent years but Phil Barrett from Castle Gym in Windsor was a worthy winner. Anthony Nadao from Cheetah’s Hove was 2nd with Ian Lander from Muscle Limits at Enfield in 3rd. Ian qualified for the British Finals as an O 40 Masters but he had the best overall shape in the class; he just was not hard enough. Ian has been talking to Big H about his diet and I think we can expect to see him much sharper in Nottingham.
U 90 Kg
This was a good win for Mitchell Gosling from Fitness First at Alpreton. He had good shape, condition and size and was the first man on stage with quality legs. What is it these days with all the leg machines I see in gyms, why does anyone lack legs? Perhaps it is just that they don’t like doing squats. For me Mitchell Gosling was the best in any class. In 2nd was Fivos Averkou from Muscle Limits in Enfield. He looked Ok but just needs more size.
O 90 Kg
Damar Martin from Metroflex in Sydenham was No 1 in this class. He was the best I have ever seen him. He has a beautiful shape and some good muscle size. His condition was not bad either with striations in his teardrops. Any complaints? He needs to work more on the bits he cannot see in the mirror — back, hams, calves, glutes [to be sharper]. But he still looks impressive. Mark Yates [overall winner in Portsmouth] from Broadstone Leisure Centre in Poole was 2nd. He has good shape and size Ok in the upper body with massive arms. He needs to work his legs to match his uppers. Imram Mohammad from Fitness First in Alpreton needs to lose 30 lbs.
The award for Best Poser went to Bobby Khan.
Eddie Abbew was press-ganged into doing a star spot because the guest had not arrived. Only 2 weeks earlier Eddie had been competing in Denver but my God he had bulked up in those 2 weeks. He was huge and — well — bulky. The guest Paul de la Hay did arrive later and he was bulky as well.
The Show could have finished much earlier.
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