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As in previous years we can expect a major report of the UKBFF British Finals in “The Beef” and on many web sites, so we will just concentrate on the main bits of interest for The Forest Gym.
This is a year when we feel like celibrations. To have both Overall Winners coached by the same man or woman is, I think, unique.
The UKBFF Finals took place in Nottingham on 8th October and were a major triumph for the Forest Gym but particularly for the coaching provided by Big H. We can take nothing away from the sumpreme efforts and dedication shown by Troy Brown and Michelle Jones in the preparations not just for this show but for the preceding Qualifiers. Troy trains in the Forest Gym only once per week— on leg day — and does most of his workouts at that Mecca of Muscle, Muscleworks in Bethnal Green but he has been coached by Harold from being just an average MW to being a quality HW and Overall British Champion in just 2 years. By any standards that is astonishing progress — 23 kgs of muscle in 24 months.
Michelle Jones trains four times per week in the Forest Gym and has an excellent future after winning the Overall Women’s Title at 21 years of age.
Now, on to the Show. In spite of all the pettyfogging rule changes that seem to come from the inner sanctums of the UKBFF like bureaucratic diarrhoae, this year’s Finals had an increase in the number of competitors and with that an increase in the size of the audience. And the standard of all the competitors was high. The need to select winners from so much quality muscle resulted in one of the longest ever judging sessions. It was 6.45 pm before the final selections had been made in the HW class.
I was getting worried that we were going to have a super late evening after already having driven up to Nottingham that day leaving at 6.30 am. But I have to say that Julian Fienstein got through the evening show with creditable speed. The audience was very enthusiastic — although supporters from one or two gyms did overdo it in supporting their own men to the exclusion of all others.
Heavyweights
We had a lot of confidence that this was going to be Troy’s year. He arrived in Nottingham a whole 1.5 kgs heavier than in the Leamington Qualifier and looking in even better condition. Fifteen super quality HWs came on stage but it quickly became clear that the winner was going to be Troy of Zak Khan. The contrast between the two was extreme. Zak Khan was huge as in HUGE. He had tackled the imbalances in his physique and overall his proportions were much improved. But when he came on stage the overwhelming impression was the enormous size. He is about 5ft 11in and he weighed over 19sts. Every body part was a mind-blowing mass of muscle. If the judges wanted sheer size, he was the winner. Troy was totally different; beautiful proportions, no weaknesses, big muscles, superb separations in ham and glutes, classic V shape; he could not be faulted. When the call-outs started, Troy performed like a true athlete, flowing easily from one classic pose to the next. Zak looked awkward and he had some difficulty hitting some of the poses. As the comparisons continued Zak looked uncomfortable while Troy gave more of his best. He must have known that he was winning these comparisons. When the top five came on stage in the evening Troy was looking confident and when Julian F announced Zak 2nd, Troy was completely [and genuinely] overcome with emotion. A great win and Zak collected yet another 2nd place trophy. In 3rd place was Pat Warner form Pudsey [Leeds] with a big physique that was somewhat overawed by Zak’s mass. The 4th place went to the very big Dave Talbot from Metraflex Gym, Sydenham. Dave looks good from the front but his back, although wide, lacks depth and detail. I feel he lost points in his posing routine because he had a long lead in on his music and lost too much time. David Titterton from Flex Fitness in Sheffield was 5th. He had good shape and condition but he just needs to add some more mass to be a serious contender. Of other competitors, Mark Etherden from The Gym, Dunstable had lost some of his classic shape in the move to HW; I was impressed by Darren Poole from Leicester; Kevin Alder keeps plugging away getting better all the time but it is a slow process. Several others had lots of potential with a bit more size and better condition.
Light Heavyweights
Paul Stenning was our man in this class having qualified by winning the 90 Kg Class at Paul Smith’s South Coast Show. Paul is rather tall for a 90 Kg man but he was in superb condition — possibly better than anyone else in the entire show. He was up against James “Flex” Lewis, a competitor with a considerable reputation from his days as a Junior. It seemed almost a forgone conclusion that Flex would win. He has a classic shape, good muscle size, good separation and great stage presence. But he could have been slightly harder. Flex is good but he seems to keep coming back little changed. If he is to make it as a Pro he has to keep improving or he will get taken for granted. He was made the winner. I thought that Paul with his general proportions and condition would get 2nd or 3rd spot but the judges placed him 5th — which I thought harsh. In 2nd was Barny Du Plessis with a good all round physique — but he could have been harder. The 3rd man was Dean Lesiak with lots of muscle. He has very good triceps, pecs and delts but he has a long torso and needs more on the lower lats. Dotun Diya was in 4th. He has a good shape and size and good separation in his legs; could have been slightly harder.
Womens U 57 Kg
This was the first time that I had seen Michelle in a contest and she looked impressive immediately she came on stage. She has great shoulder width, trim hips and great legs including calves. In sharp condition, she looked really fit and athletic. She was a worthy winner ahead of Jacqueline Reilly from Windsor. She had a nice routine and great shape but she was let down by her legs. The 3rd spot went to Lynn Gray from Rochester Health Club. She also needed more leg mass with abit of extra hardness; I thought she was retaining a bit of fluid. In at 4th came Caroline Jones from Telford who ha a nice shape but looked rather light. The final place was Louise Facey all the way from Body 2000 in Exeter. She needs to come in harder.
Women’s O57 Kg
This Class was won by a delighted Sharon Madderson from Canterbury, who had a great physique with wide shoulders, good arms, nice abs and intercostals. She posed well and really made the best of her strong points. For me she was a fairly convincing winner over Aggie Dolson in 2nd. She has plenty of muscle and her experienced showed in comparisons and posing. Jeannie Ellam from Fitness Connection in Dewsbury was 3rd. She was incondition and had a well balnced physique. She was well ahead of Sandra Probert from Unique Bodies in Oxford who was a bit light and with some fluid retention. The final palcing was Denise John from Flex Appeal in Wloverton. She has potential but needs more size and condition.
Harold and I both thought that Michelle would struggle to win the Overall title against a good quality HW competitor. We were wrong. In the Overall comparisonsl Michelle looked better balanced — primarily because of better legs. I suspect that Sharon was only a few kgs above 57 Kg and so Michelle’s better overall balance told. In fact she did not look significantly lighter in many poses. Michelle desrved the win.
Other Classes
In other classes, Gary Farr was a quality Junior winner and Noah Sidibe took the U80 Kg First Timers from a promising Boris Bacani. Kenneth Clarke was the winner in the O40 Masters and Cavin Derby was back again to win the O50 Masters — O50??? — Cavin Derby was competing when I was still in my pram and Lloyd George was Prime Minister — or was it Paul George? He never changes — Cavin Derby not Lloyd George — it must be the alpine air above Denton that keeps him looking so young and fit.
The winners of the Intermediates were John Robson [U80 Kg]— with a nice shape, good muscle size, very good quads and calves; but needs to work on his hams — and Alvin Small [O80 Kg], who was not small at all; he has plenty of muscle with thick lats and delts but he could have been sharper. Kevin Taylor won the U70 Kg Class in spite of two torn pecs — he was the best. Nanu Manu won the U80 Kg — or rather, Wade Stafford lost it. Wade was not in the condition he had been in Leamington nor, from reports, the condition of a few days earlier. Wade had the best shape and proportions and had he been sharper he would have won. As it was, Nanu was the best overall package. In 2nd was Tony Bailey and Glen Casey 3rd. Wade was 4th with James Room 5th.
In choosing an Overall, it was clearly between Troy and James Flex Lewis. Troy was spot on and bigger and a convincing winner.
So, what were my over-riding impressions of the show? Good to see so many good quality competitors and a good audience but organisation of the show still leaves much to be desired. The attitude of UKBFF officials towards competitors is not always as it should be; back stage facilities were primitive; why are there no programmes of any kind? If the UKBFF could get their heads round this instead of spending time inventing more rules, they could make money and give everyone a better idea of what was going on. And my continuous gripe, catering. Why is it that presented with a few hundred young people with huge appetites only Paul Smith at the South Coast thinks they need to be properly fed?
To all the competitors — Well Done!
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