This was a good season closer for the Natural Physique Association (NPA). Not the best venue, lacking a certain razzle-dazzle in terms of an upbeat event. And the bar closing earlier and the café closing even earlier left hungry and as the can machines ran out - thirsty people lurking with intent. It may also explain why some supporters left once their charge had competed. The lighting was good for judging and the photos seemed to be coming out a treat too. Although this meant the mood of big event was harder to create. The show was professionally run, with only minor hiccups from the music man. All in all a good day to end the season for the NPA.
What really makes the show is not the venue - although picking one with bodybuilder-friendly seats really helps - it's the competitors.
Therefore, this is my show report and my opinion of the classes, the top 3 winners and any thoughts as relevant on those further down the order. The classes were worthy of the final, and it was clear that the people competing were champions in their own right already, with only one exception that we will get to when the time comes. Remember each competitor is a champion or placer already, so it's looking at faults on the best naturals in the country, lest we forget the quality of the line ups.
Under 21s
In third place Kieron Thornton must have wondered if he was in the right class, as must his fellow competitors. This was a class divided with the winner Jay Hollingsworth, who has already scalped an Overall title this year, with his great size and rock hard conditioning and in second place Ryan Petford. Ryan is another big lad, and a few notches of condition would have had Jay very nervous indeed. Ryan would push any junior class on his own, and only an outstanding competitor like Jay is going to keep him down. Below these two it was a close fought thing. In the under 21s its often down to the least faults topping the charts, as these young physiques have different flaws and the judges separate which man has the best combinations. Today Kieron was the best of the rest. He has a good most muscular but needs to work on width and thickness to keep the company of guys like Jay and Ryan.
Novices
What a class, not separated by weight divisions this one threw up interesting judging choices. The winner Godfrey Onyac offered up impressive size, with an excellent shape and taper. A physique that is aesthetically pleasing but not rock hard and crisp. In second Phil Bevan was harder, but smaller and less shapely - if you can use such a term. Also in prejudging his midsection did not look as rock hard as the rest of his physique as he flexed. Against Godfrey with the size advantage he has on Phil, and his lovely muscle flow and shapes conditioning and small posing faux pas can make a big difference. I'm not sure they did today. In third John Clarkson was rock hard, and had a quality front lat spread. He faded a little as pre-judging went on, but it didn't cost him a place. Phil Bevan started squeezing hard after the judging was over and showed a much harder physique - when it didn't count. That's a lesson for Phil. Whether it would have moved him up we won't know, but conditioning is a big deal and can easily swing a decision against the bigger man. The guys in the weight classes have to be anxiously looking at this lot, serious quality beef on the way through.
Masters
This was between Lloyd Stewart and Ian Johnson. No disrespect intended to the other guys who presented worthy masters physiques on stage. It rather a testament to just how good these two are that it was always a two horse race. Lloyd is a mountain of muscle, in fact in relaxed poses it sometimes looks to hang loose from the bone there is that much of it, and then snaps to attention when he flexes. Today Lloyd was not rock hard, and although he had is trademark size, he didn't seem to flow as a physique as much as in the past. This combined with his softer look, especially in the lower abs, meant that Ian was clearly ahead. A tighter package, not outrageously big like Lloyd but still plenty of quality muscle to go round in an aesthetically pleasing physique. Top that off with nice crisp condition and you have a physique that takes titles - masters or any other class.
Figure
This class was definitely a highlight. Each competitor arrived with a competitive package leading to a huge judging headache. Each girl had something to offer as the definitive figure package. In sixth Joggy Ray was a little softer and could do with hardening up her physique, but she has great lines, superb posing routine. The only blot was a prejudging bikini that was too big for her and made her waist look huge. In 5th Trudy Wood. This wasn't the best Trudy to step on stage this year, but her graceful lines made up for that small slip in condition. Trudy has to be happy with this placing in this company, and the endorsement of her style of figure physique it represents. In 4th Elesa Argent. Personally I had Elesa in 3rd. She is one of the shorter competitors in this class but still has a great feminine flow to her physique with great figure lines, and is obviously trained with the condition she presents. Great job Elesa. In third Michelle Clift, for me a little soft in the glutes and hams, Michelle nonetheless made a successful return with a graceful figure today. Claire Cotter in second, what can you say about Claire she is almost the epitome of a figure competitor, in fact without the Winner Jenny Garside on stage, she is just that. Today was very much about that something extra from figure and physique wise there were no great gulfs between Claire and Jenny. Today Jenny's wonderful lines, flowing muscle and elegance carried the day. With this many good figure competitors Jenny cannot rest on her laurels that's for sure.
Miss Physique under 55kgs
In third Magsi Creighton had too blocky and soft a midsection to contend for the top spots. Work on that all important conditioning and refine the muscle with a bit of addition to keep the feminine lines going and Magsi could move right up there. The top spot for me was a close fought battle, and I had this one going to the student not the teacher. Leslie Haswell in second was inspired to compete by the very same Marina Cornwall that pipped her to the post today. And pipped to the post she was. Leslie was bigger, with great shape and flow, her posing was excellent and her condition wasn't softie soft. In fact the only readily apparent difference was on the lower ab where Marina was definitely harder and more defined. The rest of the physique comparison would fall firmly into the apples and oranges category of debate. Today Marina's apples beat Leslie's oranges but I think Marina is right in focussing on adding some quality size for next season. As the Ms Physique girls are snapping at her heels hard
Couples
I can't really comment on the couples, both had good physiques and the best couple as seen by the judges won!
Miss Physique over 55kg
This class was the exception. The rest of the card was chock full of quality muscle brought in the best of condition right the way down the line up. This was a collection of ladies where I saw a line up that looked 8 - 10 weeks out not ready to go. If this sounds harsh then maybe they will read it and think. I am a fan, what would a normal person think of a bunch of ladies in bikinis with cellulite calling themselves bodybuilders? And what that says about the sport of bodybuilding? I also know that these ladies are not new to the sport and should know better. As it was the strongest of them took the class. Sorry but for me the big girls were a big disappointment. And I even wondered how many would be over 55kg if they continued dieting to show condition!
Under 70kg
If the women were a disappointment this class was a revelation. When a competitor of the standard of Jason Barnett comes 4th then you know something special has happened. This class was spiced up to say the least by the late addition of Paul Ennis who was originally in the next weight class but who weighed in under and was in the under 70s. Paul eventually took second pushing down the impossibly small waisted Carlos Santos Aca into third by virtue of carrying so much more mass than Carlos. Carlos wasn't in rock hard condition, and was only matching Paul in that department. Paul looked 10 or more pounds fuller with muscle and his condition wasn't shabby by any means. However, when it comes to condition Ian Stocks has re-written the definition of shredded. And today was no different, deep striated glutes echoed the story of every other muscle group. Top this with his simply jaw-droppingly defined side tricep poses, and shredder semi relaxed stance and an on form Ian Stocks has one hand on the win. This class was far from a foregone conclusion, it was a hard fought battle, Paul was noticeably bigger than Ian, and the classic size versus condition battle raged intensely. This had fight combined with just how much this title meant to Ian, to produce his own Ronnie moment, where Ian just dropped to his knees with the sheer emotion of it. And we thought Godfrey had been an emotional winner.
Under 78kg
When John Medourie comes third then this must mean either he was way off or that this was a class with some serious quality. John wasn't off by any means today. As it turned out this class saw a big fight between Mark Oakes, John and Damon Brown. However, as prejudging progressed Mark just went from superb to get better and better the more he flexed. And flexed they all did. Killer width, thickness and definition tipped the nod in Mark's direction. A worthy class winner indeed.
Over 78s
This class is stacked with champions; Gus looked ready to do damage and then some. Kevin Skilled was a man with a mission, and John Heaton wasn't messing either. Who would be a judge with this much muscle all intent on the win? 4th place Justin Chow had a physique that could have walked away with this title in recent history, that's how good these boys really were. The victory of Kevin Skilled over Gus Fischer was bound to be debated and indeed it divided our car on the way home from the show. How do you separate two so closely matched competitors objectively? Who would be a judge?
Women's overall
Marina's win was never really in doubt and with the over 55s Sharon looking really very right next to Marina the quality difference between the two classes was sealed! Well done Marina.
Men's overall
Mark Oakes, this was a two horse race, between Ian Stocks and Mark Oakes. No one can be upset placing behind Mark today. He as super separated and shredded brilliantly, but he had a component that Ian didn't. Just enough extra size. In most poses Ian was shredded by a margin, but Mark was bringing an easily visible amount of extra muscle only a few percentage points behind Ian's super shredded look. Mark was a very worth winner, who worked hard on stage and the gym to achieve it.
I have to applaud the champions of today, a credit to the NPA banner and the natural sport. Class winners that would be contenders and winner on any stage, not just a natural one show that bodybuilding the natural way is not only alive and well - its growing quite nicely too. And that's a good thing for everyone.
Hearty congratulations to Lee Kemp, Michael Phillips and the rest of the NPA for a professional show, that on the whole ran smoothly to a good time table and that didn't represent an endurance test. Shows like this are always good fun to attend and the NPA was no different.
Results:
Under 21s
6. Andrew Thornton
5. Stephen Turner
4. Brett Connolly
3. Kieron Thornton
2. Ryan Petford. Best under 18 award.
1. Jay Hollingsworth
Novice
6. David Kershaw
5. Tshala Kabala
4. James Thoman
3. John Clarkson
2. Phil Bevan
1. Godfrey Onyac
Masters
5. Mark Hesketh
4. Howard Ingram
3. Filipo Artusa
2. Lloyd Stewart - Best over 50 award.
1. Ian Johnson
Miss Figure
6. Joggi Rai
5. Trudy Wood
4. Elesa Argent
3. Michelle Clift
2. Claire Cotter
1. Jenny Garside
Miss Physique under 55kg
5. Elaine Pell
4. Unni Plant
3. Magsi Creighton
2. Leslie Haswell
1. Marina Cornwall
Couples
1. Unni Plant/Filipo Artusa
2. Magsi Creighton/Jon Bibb
Miss Physique over 55kg
4. Lynn Sneddon
3. Shirley Kirkup
2. Sharon Rose
1. Sharon Simmons
Under 70kg
6. Denton Wilson
5. Richard Walker
4. Jason Barnett
3. Carlos Santos Aca
2. Paul Ennis
1. Ian Stocks
Under 78kg
5. Courtney Smith
4. Paul Todd
3. John Madourie
2. Damon Brown
1. Mark Oakes
78kg+
6. Yoyo Butler
5. John Bibb
4. Justin Chuckwu
3. John Heaton
2. Gus Fischer
1. Kevin Skelland
Overall Men's: Mark Oakes
Overall Women's: Marina Cornwall
Best Presentation Women: Jenny Garside
Best Presentation Men: Mark Oakes