The EFBB South Coast Show organised on Easter Sunday, 11th April, by Paul Smith was better than ever this year and had a good crowd of people packing the Portsmouth Guildhall throughout the day.  Some good standard bodybuilders, lots of entertainment for the kids and a mind blowing display by Marcus Ruhl all served to keep things moving.  And with a finish before 10.30 pm we had time to eat and still get home at a reasonable hour.

Our interest above all was in Bill Hazeltine in the First Timers but Rob Hill, last year’s overall winner, has been a frequent visitor to The Forest Gym preparing for this year’s contest under Big H’s supervision We were backing him to do well again.  Rob was 15 lbs heavier than last year and looking in better condition than last year, so the omens were good.   There were two others competing from Rob’s gym, Body 2 Body in Radstock and having seen them in The Forest Gym, we knew that they also had to be in with a good shout

This year The Forest Gym will have fewer competitors than in 2003 in both Bodybuilding and Power Lifting contests as many of our members suffer the stresses of everyday life plus a few injuries and need time to get sorted. But we have new members coming along who will be competing on stage before very long.

Bill Hazeltine did us proud with a very enthusiastic and professional display, which would have won him the First Timers, had it not been for the appearance of Toby Bienek from Cloud Nine Health Club in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.   Toby has been competing for some years in Power Lifting and Strongman events but was persuaded to diet down to Bodybuilder condition and give it a go.   He was not perfect aesthetically, but he did have plenty of muscle with excellent quads, hams and calves. Bill was smaller but more pleasing shape and really showed off what he had got — a lean and mean look — and he was not over=awed by the bigger man.   Both men were well ahead of Alex Giddings from Harveys Gym in Tring in 3rd. He had good shape and should be good in a year or two. The last two in the class just need to keep working for more mass and then get the condition

Matt Crook from Body 2 Body in Radstock was a clear winner of the Juniors with a much better balanced physique than Joe Crammond from Burnham-on-Sea in 2nd.    Matt had really good legs, while Joe and  Ben Harris in 3rd lacked all round leg mass.  Ben Harris also had a tendency to be round shouldered. Matt Crook should do well when he moves into the senior classes next year.

In the Seniors there was not much between Mark Deane from Cheetahs in Hove and Grant McTaggart from Foundation in Sandhurst. At the judging, I thought that it was going to be Grant 1st but in the evening Mark Deane seemed much better [sharper] and with better balance he took the class with Grant Mc Taggart 2nd.   Phil Hindmarsh from Weights Room in Eastleigh was well behind.  He needs much more mass and better condition — but he did have some gyno.  The other competitors need to improve their conditions.

In the Intermediates we saw Tim Burkley from Soho Gym in London back and much improved from last year.   He is a big man with a fantastic future ahead of him in Bodybuilding. In my notes I have written that this guy has great biceps, triceps and outstanding delts.   Then there were the full, thick lats and terrific legs.  In fact his only weakness was that he could have been harder. He was harder than last year and with his mass he need not worry about getting too small when he is dieting down. He was well prepared, with good colour and unique jet black, velvet finish posing trunks.   Very professional.  In 2nd was Mark Norris from Castle Gym in Windsor with good shape and size.  He was great from the back with terrific traps, large lats and splendid spinal erectors.  Into 3rd was Graham McAdams from Fitness First on Swindon.  He had a nice shape but needs more mass.

The 70 kg Class was an easy win for John Oduor Ochar from Prime Bodies in Swindon. He has a tiny, tiny waist and classic proportions. The other 70 kg man, Aziz Khafagi needs much more work, particularly in the legs.

In the 80 Kg Class Jason Maker form Cheetahs Gym in Hove was a deserving winner.  He should one day make a good 90 kg competitor.  In 2nd was Joe Dwan, a home trainer from Swindon.  He was OK but needs to straighten his shoulders — pull them back — and tighten up his waist area.  Dean Harris was 3rd.

The 90 kg Class was the biggest class of the day with 7 competitors. Mark Cameron from City Gym in Portsmouth was just about good enough to beat Tom Blackman. Mark had a very nice shape with very full muscles and outstanding hams and calves.  His pecs and delts were were thick and well separated.  Tom Blackman from LA Gym in Bristol had lots of muscle but with a wide[ish] waist. His teardrops in his legs were heavy just above the knee but he needed more thickness higher up and in the hams. He would have been better sharper. Nigel Magner from Body 2 Body was in this class and I placed him about 5th. He has lots of potential but he is too tall for a 90 kg man. He needs to be an aesthetically pleasing, well-proportioned 90 kg+ man. In a year or two he will be just that.

In the HW Class Rob Hill looked like the winner when he came on stage but he tried quite hard to lose.   Jerry Blackwell from Unique Bodies in Oxford had a good upper body, thick and sharp and it seemed that he had made Rob Hill think that he was beaten.   Rob did not perform as he needed to at the judging and I thought he had lost it.   But at the evening show having received a pep talk, he performed as he should and he hauled himslef out of the hole he had been digging to win the class. Rob was not as thick or as hard in the chest and abs but he was in another class in all back poses — much wider and thicker — and his legs were bigger and harder all round but particularly in hams and calves.   The 3rd place went to Dominic Cannon from Foundation in Camberley. He had a rather bloated mid-section but still needs more leg mass.   The tatoos were a negative factor.   Rob Hill then went on to win the Overall again.   Well done Rob. Now for the Brits in October and get arrogant !!   No doubts about the quality of your physique will be permitted.

  The Women’s Contests were something of a disaster zone.  There were two women in the U57 kg Class and that was it for Women’s Bodybuilding.  Marina Cornwall and Rachel Greenhalgh were both invited to the British Finals.   Similarly, there were just two women in the Fitness Class, Leigh Gardner and Georgina Tier.