Natural Physique Association (NPA) Yorkshire was on Sunday 5th June 2005. It was an interesting choice of venue, great scenery on the way over which helped me relax and get in the mood for a great day of bodybuilding, and I wasn't disappointed. Michael Phillips and the rest of the team who put on this show, which has being going in its various guises for 15 years deserve massive credit for the great job they did. The show was conducted in a brilliantly professional manner from the word go, the competitors were marshalled and ushered excellently, the crowd kept up to date when there was a delay and overall this was lesson in show promotion for anyone.
Like Michael I would like to thank the sponsors who made it possible, because they obviously put a great deal of support behind the show and the NPA so that they could be successful in promoting natural bodybuilding, another great job there. And respect for a nice emcee suit - great to see someone dressing appropriately for the occasion.
This is the first time I have been to a natural show so I was super keen to see the standard of the competitors. I was not disappointed; phenomenal doesn't adequately describe the athletes in Holmfirth on Sunday. This was a line up with quality depth in each and every class. Take down the NPA banner and put up EFBB, NABBA whatever and this show would have been a highlight of the year. If ever natural bodybuilding needed an advertisement these guys (and girls of course) did it and then some.
With that in mind I am going to review the classes, with what are, only my opinions. Please remember that, because these competitors didn't bring a collection of weak points, the brought great overall packages that made me glad I was no a judge having to do the placements. The number of outstanding physiques was a great sight to see, the fact it was done without assistance made it all the more impressive. Finally I have stuck to the winners and placers.
Under 21s
1st: Jay Hollingsworth
Jay also took 3rd overall. If that doesn't tell you enough about the quality this lad displayed then you need medical attention. Absolutely brilliant combination of size, shape and condition. At 20 years old (if I remember rightly) Jay could easily go on to be the 2nd great bodybuilding Jay in the world.
2nd: Martin Macdonald
First of all, sorry for having you 3rd in my first edition of the results. Secondly congratulations on bringing a great junior physique to the stage. Do that again and you will always take some beating and be in a tussle for the top spot. I am sure you know where your areas for improvement lie, so don't lose any heart and keep going because I see more than your fair share of trophies in the future.
3rd: Richard Smith
What a show, 3rd in this line up is no disgrace whatsoever. Like Martin you will already know what to do to improve, and with a physique like yours you can only go from strength to strength in future years. Great job and again you made those above you work for their placing and helped give the judges a big headache.
4th: Aaron Mwale
I got the feeling Aaron was a little unprepared for this show, in both physique and presentation. I have nothing but respect because your physique shows that you put in the work. Now you know what you are aiming for I have no doubts you are going to push for the top places next year.
Masters
1st: Brian Rayner
Brian holds a number of titles already and this showed, Lloyd pushed hard and the judges made these guys work for the title. But Brian took it in the end with great size, shape, symmetry and condition. A masters physique worth of any stage in any part of the world. I am always humbled by the masters competitors and the quality so many of them bring on show day, and Brian got me looking for the humble pie once again.
2nd: Lloyd Stewart
Great physique that pushed hard for the top spot in a close contest. If you forced me to highlight where Brian edged it I would be looking at condition and leg development but it was terribly close. Lloyd was out with an injury last year, and without know I would guess it was a leg injury as to me they looked like they had been bigger and better before. With small improvements in his wheels and condition Lloyd will be more than a good bet to pip Brian next time around.
3rd: Roland Winlow
A good quality Masters physique once again, but Roland just didn't have the size or condition of the top two. Roland has to be proud of his showing, 3rd in this company is no disgrace whatsoever; I would be tucking into my post contest binge a proud man if I were him.
Miss Physique 55kg+
1st: Shirley Kirkup
The only competitor in this category Shirley gets top marks and respect for standing up there alone. It can feel a bit hollow winning unopposed, but Shirley is in the finals and can use this show as a stepping stone to make the improvements she needs to vie for a top spot later this year. A good job with great potential.
Novice
A huge class, and impressive to the point that the top four got invites to the finals. Placing behind these four is nothing to be disappointed with. If this had been a weight class no one would have batted an eyelid such were the physiques on display. Natural bodybuilding as a bright future with this lot coming on that's for sure. The top four were close in standard too in a great battle.
1st: Brandon Greenwood
Brandon did not look out of place in the overall line up, which speaks volumes about the quality of his physique. More of the same will see him pushing for top honours in his weight class.
2nd: Ben Woodhard
Ben displayed great size and condition, top marks for V taper as well. Ben like his brother would have benefited from being darker to show off his condition to its best. Even so he looked big and cut, only outstanding will beat a quality solid physique like this one.
3rd: Mark Blundell
I have the feeling Mark eased in to 3rd at the night show where he was much tighter than the pre-judging. His condition was softer but phenomenal size and development in his physique in terms of muscle separation and shape, more than made up for that. What would worry me as a competitor is that Mark is going to learn and get better which means he is going to get increasingly difficult to beat, I am sure the guys on stage eagerly await him moving up into someone else's weight class.
4th: Matthew Woodhard
Joins his brother in the finals and deservingly so. You could have called Matthew or Mark in 3rd and I could not see anyone complaining. Great condition, his development was spot on, a bit more size all over and it will be more than Ben who will be looking anxiously over their shoulder at future shows.
Miss Trained Figure
1st: Claire Cotter
Improved from the pictures on her site, Claire eased into top spot with excellent presentation, an entertaining routine and tip top condition.
2nd: Debbie Scholefield
3rd: Caroline Owen-Thomas
I am glad I was not trying to judge this class; all the top three ladies brought excellent presentation, tip top condition and solid routines to the show. And they were with no disrespect presenting very similar looks as well - exactly what the judges were looking for on the day. Claire edged because she had more of the qualities that were being rewarded, but not but so much that you couldn't have moved the top three around and caused a riot. This was a close battle indeed. Personally I think a few more pounds of muscle added by any one of these girls would see them move away from their competitors to make the title theirs to lose either at the finals or future shows.
Women's Best Presentation
Erika Boscott: in the trained figure class this was a routine straight from the fitness competitors' handbook (minus the jumps). I see Erika as having a bright future in fitness as she displayed the qualities needed of a top fitness competitor in her routine and her basic slim structure would be better suited to that class's physique round. In my opinion if Erika makes the switch she had better plan on clearing some space on the mantle.
Under 70kg
Ian Stocks |
1st: Ian StocksUltra hard, shredded and tight. Ian brought conditioning of the highest level and clearly had the edge over the other competitors in this class. If I was competing against Ian I would hope he doesn't add a little arm mass to balance his physique to perfection because that would be tough to beat. Ian faded a little through the day and suffered cramps in the overall which I think hurt him in his bid for that title. However, Ian knows how to rectify this and bring his Saturday condition to show day!
2nd: Carlos Santos Aca
Mr V taper, Carlos had a tiny waist that I think he stole off a 10year old it was that small. And he combined that with good muscularity, full shoulders and good lats to round off a solid package. A little leg mass and a few percent more conditioning and he is more than a serious contender come the finals.
3rd: Thomas Campion
Third in this line up is an achievement, another solid under 70kg physique which like so many in the line up today didn't have any glaring weak points that screamed improve me like you so often find. Instead for Thomas it's a case of having every department brought up a little in size, condition, separation to make what is good even better.
Under 78kg
1st: Andrew Merrifield
In top condition Andrew is a title contender at this weight in any UK show at any level, a true talent and an outstanding athlete. This Andrew wasn't at prejudging; instead he looked distracted, tired and weary. When a top notch competitor is off his game like Andrew was, they are beatable and Andrew looked vulnerable at times through prejudging. At the night show Andrew the champion turned up and his physique looked miles better because of this, and he was clearly the best in this class. I heard he is taking a holiday, which is well deserved and needed.
2nd: Neil Ashley
With Andrew at less than 100% of his best Neil was in with more than a good chance of top honours with his physique. So very close, but that extra bit of size in the Merrifield camp carried the day on this occasion. However, Neil can only improve and get better which will make it harder for everyone else to take top honours when he is in the show. The shot has been fired nothing less than 100% won't do!
3rd: Rob Carey
Apologies to Rob, as I cannot say much about his physique. For me it was a Shawn Ray experience, no real flaws, no real weak points, but I felt the top two were better. In these shows small improvements in size and condition can make a huge difference on game day, and this for me is where Rob's best chances of taking top spot lie. Great physique in an outstanding line-up.
Over 78kg
1st: Gus Fisher:
If you thought that natural meant small - think again. Gus is a big boy that can hang with the best of them. If anything was off it was his condition by a fraction, but mass with class was in attendance and taking the top spot.
2nd: Kevin Skelland:
Like Gus great mass, with quality conditioning. It is line-ups like this that make me glad I am a spectator. A very close fought contest that could have gone either way. Don't ask me to separate them; I couldn't consistently decide which I had in top spot. 100% quality conditioned muscle excellently presented - what more can you ask for?
3rd Kevin Rafferty:
Kevin was just behind the top two in size and condition and deserving of the 3rd spot. When I say just, I mean one step - not an easy call by any means for the judges on this one. Top job by the man from South Shields.
Overall
1st Gus Fisher
The biggest if not the hardest guy on stage. Gus had quality muscle everywhere and when that's what the judges want Gus has one hand on the trophy.
2nd: Andrew Merrifield. - Also male best presentation
Andrew should be breathing a sigh of relief on this placing; in this line up he could have very easily been out of the top 3 with Sunday's showing.
3rd: Jay Hollingsworth:
If Jay had been called out 2nd no one could have complained in the audience. Quality physique.
Great judging in general, I don't think anyone who placed in the top 3 has a genuine complaint about their placing.
Just to finish off, this show was a horrible one to try and report on because no one showed any odd lumps or bumps, bee stings or little golf ball shaped muscles, none of the male competitors looked like they might need some uplift, and no nipple issues. This was a refreshing change and great to see. I think a final word should go to the Michael Phillips and the NPA because this show was done right, each class winner got a trophy as expected, but they also got what looked like 2 boxes of Udo's oil as a prize (sorry Michael forgot what the value was) - which is a nice touch from them. The best presented man and woman also got £50 which is a great reward for those who do more than stick heavy metal on and hit most musculars for 60 seconds. Which thankfully no one did.