Mid-Month Update

Stars of Tomorrow

Sunday 27th November 2005

Beck Theatre Hayes

Above Flex On Line picture of Quincy Taylor [5th], Branch Warren [1st] and Dennis James [2nd] at the Charlotte Pro Show.                  Picture [r] is Lee Powell

Three Brits made the journey to Charlotte for the first IFBB Pro Show to be held in the city.   Harold Marillier and Lee Powell went to the men's event and Inga Neverskriate tried again to make her mark on American fitness contests

The event was held on the 30th September and 1st October 2005.

There were 28 entered in the men's Pro event and 26 made it onto the stage.   Both Art Atwood and Craig Titus had pulled out for business reasons — it is well-nigh impossible to prepare for a Pro Show and build up a business at the same time. The standard was very high, particularly in the top six but the awesome size and condition of Branch Warren was enough for him to achieve his second win in three weeks.   He was full, ripped and desert dry under the skin.  Dennis James was upset that he did not get the win but I think the judges got this right.   Dennis had maintained the size we have seen every year in pre-contest pictures but this time he brought it to the show.  Problem was the unbelievable Branch. George Farah was 3rd with Mustafa Mohammed 4th and Quincy Taylor 5th — he is big isn't he, weighing in at 315 lbs.  I could have taken these three in any order and I would perhaps have had Quincy 3rd — but I am only looking at pictures

I predict Branch Warren in the top six at his first Olympia. [I was wrong - he came 8th; but I think he was robbed]

Lee Powell place 16th and Harold 18th.   For both of them I think these placings were a bit harsh but they will both be back next year.  The biggest disappointment for both of them was that being out of the top fifteen they could not do their posing routines.   Surely there was time for every Pro to do his routine?

In the Women's Fitness Inga was completely overlooked again and deserved to have been placed much higher.  It is not just me saying this.   The point has been made on several American web sites.    It is difficult to understand how, as at last year's Culver City Show Inga — the World Champion — could suddenly be 19th when girls she had beaten a few weeks before were in the top six or seven.  If we Europeans turn up over there often enough the judges suddenly seem to realise we are not invisible.   But it’s not just bodybuilding and figure competitors who struggle in America. .   When local Crawley boy Alan Minter won his World MW Boxing title from Vito Antuofermo in Las Vegas in 1980, he was the first British guy to take a title in America for .........errrr a long time ......... 50 years??

Bulk Nutrition and its owner, Mike McCandless put on a great show in Charlotte.   The competitors were picked up at the airport and taken to the Hilton Hotel, which was next door to the venue — the Charlotte Convention Centre.   All the athletes had their own dressing room and everything was laid on for tanning, feeding, etc.   There was an Expo — the Ultimate Man's Weekend — with all kinds of sporting displays, motor bikes, sports cars, strong man events, clothing for sports, casual and formal wear, grooming stuff, etc.   A good time was had by all.

Anyone who treats the competitors properly is to be supported and congratulated.

The EFBB Finals were held as usual in the Nottingham Royal Concert Centre - on 2nd October - and as usual there were a few controversial decisions.   But judging was not easy - probably not helped by the usual terrible lighting in this venue - and the standard of physique in some of the classes was very high.   The HW line-up particularly was very impressive with some well-known names ending up well out of the prizes.   And with a number of top names missing.

Our main interest was in Wade Stafford in the U80 Kg and Troy Brown and Darren Briggs in the HW.

Wade was placed 4th in U80 Kg - not bad for a first appearance at the Finals.  Wade has a terrific shape and no serious weaknesses.   All he needs to do to win this class is come in ripped - as in RIPPED!   His condition is hard and separation is good but in the next year he needs to gain a few Kg and on the day to be 78 Kg shredded.  Overall Southern Qualifier winner Tom Blackman was 3rd.  He could have been a bit harder, I think.  I am not sure about this.   He looked less hard than in Portsmouth but it may have been the lighting.  Still a great physique.    Nathan Selcon was 2nd.  He knows how to display his physique and won the best poser award.  His body is good but not as good as James Llewellyn in 1st place.  Terrific muscle density, thickness and separation.

The HW class had 17 awesome physiques - many saying it was the best line-up ever. The standard was certainly very high and it augurs well for bodybuilding in the UK when so many are prepared to make the sacrifices needed to reach the top.  Quite few established names didn’t even get a look in and others, like Chris Wall, were not even on stage.   Troy Brown was placed 4th.  This was a surprising result.   Many biased and unbiased observers thought that he should have won.   He had not lost any of his condition from his Leamington win and was even fuller.  Why was he 4th?   He was understandably disappointed but wait for next year.  An American comment was that he just needs a bit more size and then to be ripped to stand out from the crowd.  The 3rd place went to Linval Miller back in contests after a gap of 8 years.   He has size and width but perhaps he could be harder.   His was a great physique and it may be that another year of contest training will bring out the full quality of his muscle.  Zak Khan came 2nd again.  There is no denying that he has a great body; he needs more on his legs to match the size of his arms, shoulders and chest; but it is coming in sharp that is Zak’s problem.   Today he was probably sharper than in the past but still not sharp enough.  The 1st place and Overall went to Paul Delahaye.   He has great potential but he did not seem to be markedly better than in Leamington where he was 3rd.  I don’t want to sound as though I am slagging off a great physique but the re-arrangement of the top three from Leamington did seem strange.

Darren Briggs was unplaced but he has plenty of time to build a physique that will shatter this class. He has laid good foundations in 2005 and he just needs to build on these.

Marius Dohm, who did, for a time, come to The Forest Gym to see Harold, was unplaced.    Marius has a superb shape and great genetics.   All he has to do now is decide to build the size to take him to the top.   Like Darren, he is young and time is on his side.

The next issue of The Beef should have a full report of the show.

Inga Neverskriate

Troy Brown

Wade Stafford

Tilgate Lake as it was

Simon Downing

Have received some terrible news about one of our members, Simon Downing.   Only 36 years old, Simon has been very active in many sports as well as training regularly at The Forest Gym. In recent times he has been having back trouble and following surgery on the vertabrae in his lower back he is suffering from paralysis in his lower limbs.   Latest news is that some feeling is returning and the prognosis is that he could make a full recovery.  

Stick with it mate.  Everyone is wishing you the very best of luck.