SOUTH COAST TRIUMPH FOR EFBB

Report by Alex Mac.

The Portsmouth Guildhall was the massive new venue for the first contest organised by Paul Smith, the new EFBB local rep and local CNP supplement distributor.

            When I saw the sheer size of the auditorium I thought Paul was being rather ambitious, given the small turnouts in recent years down south. But that evening a noisy crowd of 1,000 turned up to fill the seats and prove me entirely wrong. It takes a lot of guts to “take the plunge”, but if you put enough money and effort into a show, it often pays dividends.

FIRST TIMERS

A huge line-up of ten in this class, won by STEVE CRABBE with a very hard tight physique.

Runner up was IAN CLARKE with a very full muscled, well shaped physique.

Third was GABRIEL NICCHI with a particular good upper body and abdominal section. Other notable competitors were:

4^th: DAVE COOPER – looking huge, very wide and full, and great legs too.

5^th: MARIO VACCARO – a very tight and hard physique with great separations.

 6^th: DANNY TURNER – a good upper body with super abs. 7^th: LEE DICKEN – great condition and separations, with impressive calves.

8^th – IAIN McALLEN – great back width and heavy traps.

9^th: PAUL BRIGGS – a neat physique.

10^th: MARK BIRCH – one hell of a big guy, a real lump of muscle. Okay, he doesn’t like to diet! But who does?

JUNIORS

Considering the fact that many recent contests have had no juniors at all, this was something of a bonus. Three great competitors!

The winner was clearly RICHARD DUERDOTH, who has already developed a sizeable well-shaped physique, plus tremendous sharp condition.

 2^nd: MATHEW LEE COOK – a nice looking physique with good hard condition.

 3^rd: GARY FARR – the youngest guy of the three, and rather smooth in comparison, but he’s got plenty of muscle mass and potential for the future.

SENIORS

A superb line-up of mature physiques. The winner could be a double for TV character ‘Lovejoy’; except I’m sure our roguish antique-dealer can’t boast the development of PAUL REPPER. Great separation, and impressive legs and calves.

2^nd: CHARLES GRANTING – a huge man and very well proportioned.

3^rd: ALAN MEDHURST – a good upper body, great back and pectorals.

INTERMEDIATES

Another healthy class of six competitors.

The winner was JOE DWAN with a very ripped physique, ultra cut glutes and deep seps. Good legs too. Okay, he poses like a nut case, but sometimes it’s good to enjoy yourself on stage and just let everything go.

2^nd: MICK FREEMAN – a complete package, very tight physique with impressive hamstrings, legs, pecs and abs.

3^rd: SEAN FELTON – A well-balanced physique, especially his upper body. 

4^th: CHRIS SMITH – Hard and well balanced, with great legs. 5^th: JON BOWLES – a tremendous well muscled full physique, though he could be harder.

6^th: PAUL CARTER – Full and shapely with loads of mass to play with, but not exactly ripped.

LADIES UNDER 52kg

Not a huge class, but a well fought one.

The winner MARINA CORNWALL has a well-balanced physique and superbly sharp condition. Great legs too.

2^nd: SUSANNE KENNEDY – A great upper body with an impressive waist-to-back taper.

UNDER 70kg

Not a huge class, but two great competitors.

The winner was JOHN ODOUR with a top quality overall physique, including an impressive overall physique, including an impressive back-to-waist ratio and strong leg development.

2^nd: MARK DEANE – A great shape with superb condition, especially good upper body with impressive abs and pecs.

UNDER 80kg

Only two in this class as well, with stalwart DAVE THACKRAY taking the honours. Plenty of muscle mass and near perfect proportions.

 2^nd: TIM TAYLOR wasn’t as well balanced maybe, but he’s got massive legs and great pecs.

UNDER 90kg

A trio of strong contenders here, although the end result was fairly clear.

Out in front was winner PAUL STENNING: very cut, with a great back and narrow waist section, and superb chest.

Second came DAN PARKER, again sporting a top-class upper body with wide shoulders and back and prominent chest.

Third was TONY GOLDTHORPE who scored highly with well-rounded legs and calves, but was let down by slightly below par condition.

OVER 90kg

A great class with three and a half great physiques. (One guy dropped out before the evening show. Chicken!).

BARRY CHAMBERLAIN came out on top with his incredible size and condition. Good muscle separation. He trains at the Weights Room in Southampton, who have sent us a nice article about Barry and his recovery from a serious injury.

 Second was DANNY LISTER who seems to be emerging from his rather smooth junior look! Loads of potential – massive arms and legs.

Third was DARREN TURNER whose combination of muscle size and sharp condition could have given him top spot. A wide physique with plenty of mass in the limbs, giving young Lister a run for his money.

GUEST STARS

ERNIE TAYLOR and NASEER EL SONBATY brought the house down. Ernie’s ‘new look’ is a tremendous improvement, and his legs seem to be an entirely new pair. At last they seem to match his upper body! (only joking ET!). Naseer gave a seminar at the end of the judging, which was very well attended. He’s far more intelligent than most of the other pro’s and that makes his talk more revealing, especially when he talks about the inner workings of the IFBB.

LAST WORDS

Everyone was in agreement that PAUL SMITH – the new EFBB man for the South Coast – had got off to a great start, and the huge new theatre was perfect. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a few national contests down in the Guildhall…………