Harold “Big H” Marillier is now the biggest he has ever been and is in incredible shape.   Both Harold and Lee Powell did the CHarlotte Pro Show and both were unplaced.  Even a quick glance at the pictures of the judging indicates that these results were harsh. But competing in America is always an uphill task. Branch Warren and the others in the first five were all in fantastic shape.   There were those last year who said that Harold was developing the swollen abdomen common to many top bodybuilders. He has worked on that in the last year, got his waist nice and tight again and yet still increased his overall bodymass.  Kerry Kayes, head man at Chemical Nutrition Products and organiser of the IFBB British GPs saw Big H before he went on stage at Gravesend and he said that he had never before seen a 280 lb bodybuilder with such a small waist — and there are few men in the UK with greater knowledge and experience than Kerry Kayes.

In addition to his success in training members of The Forest Gym for contests, Harold has been helping many others who are competing successfully in local, national and international contests.  Some he sees very regularly; others he sees less frequently.

Harold has been working with Rob Hill from Radstock for a few years now.   Rob is a two times winner of the EFBB Southern Qualifier but has been out of contests for a while owing to injuries; one of which, Kerry Kayes suggested, was an inability to walk past a chip shop. But Rob is back on track now and building up for some serious competition in 2006.  When Rob is in shape, the quality of his physique and its true potential is revealed.

Troy Brown has been guided by Harold for the last 15 months.   He qualified for the EFBB Finals in 2004 as a MW via the Leamington Show weighing a very tight 78 kgs.  Holding himself below the 80 kg limit was always a struggle — he did aerobic work like a man possessed — and at the finals he was up to 82 kgs and had to compete as a LHW. He was unplaced.  Since then with proper assessment of his true potential he has grown and added an extra 20 kg of muscle to his frame — a phenomenal increase in just one year. This must be some kind of record.  Absolute beginners can gain rapidly in their first year or so but for a seasoned competitor to add 20 kgs [44lbs] in one year is incredible.   Put it another way; he has increased his bodyweight by over 25% in one year. For the great Ronnie Coleman to match that he would need to add 75 lbs in one year — and I don’t think that even he could do that.  Whatever way you look at it, it is incredible.  Troy was very impressive at Gravesend and was even better when he swept everyone aside in Leamington.

Wade Stafford, like Harold, hails originally from South Africa and has been really getting his act together in the last year or so, overcoming a number of niggling — but painful — injuries.  He qualified for the EFBB Finals 2005 via 2nd place at the SE Show in May.   Since then he has been back to South Africa and placed 2nd in the MW Class in the Natal State Championships.   He was perhaps unlucky not to have won this but still he was invited to the Finals in Johannesburg.  He decided to give these a miss and concentrate on the EFBB.

Paul Scarborough from Plymouth made contact with Harold earlier this year and with Big H’s guidance he won the NABBA West Britain Class 4.  He was defeated by only one judge’s vote for the Overall.   He placed 6th at the NABBA Britain. Looking very solid and in condition, 2005 has been his best ever competition year.  Now, he is very serious about improving his showings in 2006.

Also from Plymouth is NABBA Masters competitor Bill Elsden.  He is training hard for the Masters Mr. Universe for which he qualified via a 5th place in the NABBA Masters Britain.   Bill is a tall man and like all tall men he needs a lot of muscle to cover his frame.  Weighing in at 230 lbs, he still looks like he could carry another 30 lbs or more of solid muscle.

Last, but by no means least is Darren Briggs from Maidstone.   He is a former NABBA Junior and Novice Britain winner [in 2003] and at only 23 years of age he competes at near 110 kg with massive arms and shoulders.   He has tremendous potential and needs, more than anything just to improve his stage presentation.  There is no doubting the basic quality of his physique. I was about to write that he hoped to qualify for the EFBB Finals, when I got the news that he had done so via the Leicester Show.  Best of Luck, Darren.

Harold has helped out many of the gym’s members in their contest preparations and we have had some impressive results over the last few years.  But as well, he has achieved much in guiding our more casual trainees who want only to improve their basic shape, reduce their bodyfat percentages or just look good on the beach.

Wade Stafford as he placed 2nd at the EFBB SE Qualifier

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Bill Elsden

Member News

I have finally to admit that I am getting elderly.   Eva told me recently that I looked in pretty good condition — considering that I was slightly older than her grandad.   Errrrr, yes.  Thanks for that, Eva.

Getting older as well is Tony Turner who has just celebrated his 40th birthday with a party — or a wake — at the Broadfield Stadium. A good time was had by all and some even managed to get to the gym the following day, as well.

Our Man in Dubai is no more. At least, he is no more in Dubai.   Alex Wheatman is back in England and has got a job on the physio staff at Crystal Palace FC.   Best of luck Alex — but don’t give up on the Power Lifting.

I heard recently from ex-gym member Steve Palmer who is now living in Saskatoon.   Where the bloody hell is Saskatoon, some of you may ask?   I had a look at a map of Canada and I can tell you that it’s near the middle of Canada in Saskatchewan.  It looks a real nice place to live.  Steve and his partner seem to be doing very well and Steve has his own business.    They have just had their first child — a little girl weighing in at 9lbs 13 ozs.  Not really so little.

Amir has also gone to Canada — either that or he is having another layoff. He has been telling us about plans to go there to grow blueberries for some time. His uncle has a farm [orchard?].   Anyone know anything about the blueberry market?

We haven’t seen much of former British Champ, Jason Whicker, who has decided to move on to new challenges.  We hear that he is still doing some training at Cannons but he rarely visits the gym now.

Alfie Noda, former 80 kg competitor and our man in an aeroplane is now living in Madrid. He is still in good shape, if a little lighter and pops in to see us every time he is in London.