Last updated 27th October 2007

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Some News Stories

Although only a few short weeks have elapsed since my last update, lots of things have happened.  I am typing this just after watching England suffer defeat against South Africa in the final of the Rugby World Cup. Cup. A disappointment possibly but a fantastic result after the team had been totally written off by almost everybody, following that terrible loss to South Africa just 5 weeks ago. It was possible to get 270:1 odds against England reaching the Final and winning. When watching the rugby, nobody can avoid noticing the contrast with our England football team — a collection of overpaid prima-donnas feigning injuries [cheating] all the time, unable to accept the decisions of referees or touch judges and probably more worried about the colour of their next Ferrari — does it have to be red? — than about their commitment to playing for England. After a sorry performance against Russia — not forgetting even sorrier performances against Macedonia — they now need Israel [or Andora] to beat Russia. Surely, Russia will not let that happen. And then the English supporters............?????    We have seen rugby supporters from every team competing in this World Cup mixing with each other in Paris on the ground, in bars and in the streets enjoying themselves without need to call out the army to control mobs of aggressive thugs.  Still, I don’t suppose anything will change.  We will carry on imagining that the ridiculous football team will one day win something again. ITV Sport have scored over the BBC this year — more by luck than good judgement, I suspect — by getting the Rugby World Cup and F1 and Lewis Hamilton possibly being Champion in his first year.  While the BBC dishes out more snooker and golf. Is it just that they have an obsession with men knocking balls into tiny holes and calling it sport?  Watching it is more like death than actually dying.

Now to Bodybuilding. I will get there in the end. Some have complained that I write a lot of stuff on this web site which has got nothing much to do with The Forest Gym and in some cases has not got a lot to do with Bodybuilding or Powerlifting either. Both accusations are true but I do tend to treat some of these pages as my personal blog site and a place where I can have a general moan. There are so many things that I could moan about that I have so far spared all those who actually read these pages. There must be some, judging by the e-mails we get about Bodybuilding and other things.

After a quiet time in late summer, the gym is now getting more active and the membership numbers are starting to build-up again.  There are a few guys who have great prospects as Bodybuilders provided that we can get them to make the commitment. But in the next few years, we will be providing yet more very high grade physiques.

I have written a report on this year’s UKBFF Finals, again after  struggling to get an authorized full list of all the winners. I have to complement CNP Professional — one of the sponsors of the UKBFF Finals for their posting the full results — and score sheets — within a few days. But I still ask, why can’t the UKBFF post the results of its most important contest of the year on their own web site within 24 hours?

It is encouraging that when we worry about the future of Bodybuilding that so many reached this year’s finals and actually turned up to compete. The winner of the First Timers, Shaun Tavenier took straight firsts from all the judges in every round and looks like a great future prospect.  Awesome. I was staggered that Patrick Williams [see picture above] was only place 3rd in the O80 Kg Intermediates. What are the flaws that the judges are seeing that I am not seeing.  Did they believe perhaps that he should not have considered himself an “Intermediate”.  He was too good for this class. But so far I have heard no explanation.

Marcus Ruhl announced over the Olympia week-end his intention of retiring from the sport of bodybuilding with immediate effect.   Like many who have been at the top for many years he is no longer able to push his body into the condition needed for taking the very top spots. He has been a great competitor and he has many fans. We wish him a long and happy retirement.  He will not be going off to dem Schwartzwald mit dem Slippers. He intends to open a second gym in Germany where he may turn out more top level Deutsche Bodybuilders.

There are also rumours of the retirement of Gunter Schlierkamp.  Another very popular competitor and a great ambassador for the sport.  With all these retirements will Germany be unrepresented at the top level of pro Bodybuilders?  Not quite.  They now have the awesome Armin Scholtz.  

Another retiree, apparently, is Dennis James.  He has one of the greatest physiques but somehow he never quite reached his peak on the day.   Every year we saw those great pictures of Dennis 8 weeks out, 6 weeks out, 2 weeks out and yet when the Olympia arrived everything had disappeared.  In recent times he has been having various technical problems and maybe he thinks it is time to call it a day. We wish him also all the verybest.

Lee Priest may be forced to retire as his up and down relationship with the PDF and the IFBB continues.  I still don’t fully understand the alleged details but it seems that Lee decided he would not go with the PDF even before he did any contests.  He had been suspended from the IFBB for even considering the PDF. He asked if he could return.  He was offered an amnesty by Jim Manion with only a 6 month suspension if he would agree.  Lee said that he had contractual commitments with the PDF and so he would have to keep to his original full 12 month ban.  Now he has asked again if he can rejoin and has been told “No!”.   There is lots of discussion and comment on American web sites but it seems that now Lee will not be welcomed back into the IFBB, ever. He committed the heinous crime of saying bad things about Jim Manion and the judges.  So that’s that then!  Another Bodybuilder retires.

The much tattooed Lee Priest seems to be operating with a few kangeroos on the loose and it may be that he has now finally burned his boats for good as far as the IFBB is concerned.   Look out Nascar Racing.

More news form the USA.  Flex Lewis has signed a sponsorship deal with Rick Gaspari.  Unusual this.  It is the first sponsorship deal Rick Gaspari has signed with anyone and he has gone with Flex, a Brit competitor. Odd. But good for Flex. Rick Gaspari was many times runner-up to Lee Haney in the Olympia 15 years or so ago.

Arnold Schwartzenegger reached his 60th birthday on 30th July.    I saw him make his first attempt on the NABBA Universe 40 years ago.   God, how time flies by.   Arnie still seems to be doing a passably good job as Governor of California and seems light years ahead of George Bush in terms of liberal social policy and action on such matters as climate change.  Not too popular with Glorious George isn’t Arnold.

Arnold is also having to deal with the fact that California is on fire. I am sure he will make a better job of organising a recovery than the appalling George Bush managed in New Orleans, that lovely city at the end of the Mississippi River.

I see that before the end of 2008, Bush’s Wars will, in addition to the human slaughter, have cost the American tax payer over $1,000,000,000,000 — yes, one trillion dollars; that’s more than Korea and Vietnam added together — even making the allowance for inflation.

Above picture of the line-up of the top three in the U70 Kg Class at the UKBFF Finals on 14th October.   Picture left is of Terry on stage after winning his 1st place in the U70 Kg.

All UKBFF Contest pictures by Eric Guy.   Some great shots Eric.

NABBA Universe

The NABBA Universe will be on Saturday 27 October and I am sorry that I will not be there.  I like Southport and it is always a great show.  Look out for Tony Mount in Class 3.  He was a convincing winner at the England Show and will take some beating.   Who will be there from outside UK????