WELSH CHAMPIONSHIPS

by John Plummer

Photography by Kevin Horton

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The heat was on in Newport as competitors battled for the accolade of becoming Welsh champion and to qualify for the British finals in October.

There was no shortage of quality physiques, as competitor numbers were up year-on-year for the second consecutive UKBFF contest.

The action moves to Dundee next weekend for the Scottish Championships.

BODYBUILDING

Besjan Osmani underlined his reputation as one of the rising stars of the sport with another highly impressive performance. A week after winning at the English Grand Prix, Besjan was back in Wales to give another display of quality muscle. He has a lot of strengths, not least his back poses, which featured superb glutes and hamstrings, and his vacuum pose. Real quality.

The 80 kg class was a competitive battle, with the top two both having good sets of wheels. Jonathan Lock, who won, was really tight and chunky.

All five masters brought impressive packages to the stage but it boiled down between a battle between a good big 'un and a good 'little 'un. The big 'un, Keith Evans, had more width than anyone, a good X shape and big legs, and got the verdict ahead of Justin Crunkhorn, who gave away a lot of weight but was tight and balanced.

Justin went on to qualify for the British finals in the open 70 kg class while Keith gave Besjan a run for his money in the open over 90 kg line-up.

Anthony Larson's shredded thighs and overall balance took classic bodybuilding. Anthony was peeled and had a moment to savour when his daughter came on stage to celebrate with him.

MEN'S PHYSIQUE

Mizan Rahman showed once again what an outstanding muscular men's physique competitor he is. With a full chest and attractively shaped upper body, he is a threat to anyone.

Samson Olatunji also displayed good aesthetics in winning the up to 179 cm men's physique class. Samson's wide shoulders tapered down to a really tight midsection.

Gladstone Simpson, who won the over 179 cm class, was one of the day's best conditioned competitors, with detail all over his midsection.

Dale Mason was rewarded for his sharp conditioning by going home with a winner's trophy in the up to 173 cm category and a third place trophy in masters. He and partner Hayley Fenning could have filled the boot of their car with silverware.

Juniors was difficult to call. The winner, Christopher Hughes, had a good taper while the taller Stanley Rohal had a more streamlined men's physique look, capped by good shoulders. Both were excellent but there was no doubting Christopher deserved it.

Graham Dawes once again proved men's physique is more about quality than quantity by combining shape and aesthetics to defeat his masters rivals.

In classic bodybuilding, Ruben Lermo displayed some nice classic shapes to overcome the giant Vladimirs Vinogradovs, whose 6 ft 7 ins frame was impressively dry.

FEMALE CLASSES

Firefighter, marine biologist, bodybuilder... is there nothing Tilly James can't do? She showed once again what a quality bodyfitness competitor looks like by picking up another winner's trophy for her collection.

Tilly overcame Lucy Bravington, who had the consolation of winning the masters division. Lucy has a nice flow to her physique and if she tightens up, she will be a threat.

Not for the first time, the short height bikini class featured the strongest female line-up of the day. Masters champion Szilvia Babinszki overcame Alice Richardson, who won the rookie class at last year's British Championships, for second place. But neither the master nor the rookie could knock Ernestina Portnaja off the winner's perch. Ernestina displayed a terrific bikini fitness look with nice symmetry and proportions, tight glutes and wasn't too hard.

Szilvia added to her second place in the open class with victory in the masters to complete a highly successful comeback after taking time off to have a baby by winning the masters. Such excellent proportions and conditioning for a mother aged over 35 are a great advert for bodybuilding lifestyle. Hayley Fenning, who was second to Szilvia, also won the tall open class line-up. Hayley showed a little more muscle than usual and with her terrific shape, she has all the tools to win more trophies when she really dials in her condition,.

Hayley Overall's extra quad and glute muscle made her the pick in wellness, where lower body development is especially rewarded. Runner-up Alexandra Jakri had a lovely, tight shape.

RESULTS

Junior Men's Physique

1 Christopher Hughes

2 Stanley Rohal

Wellness

1 Hayley Overall

2 Alexandra Jakri

3 Roxanne Draper

Masters Bodybuilding over 40

1 Keith Evans

2 Justin Crunkhorn

3 Jason Clarke

also competed: Keith Delazzari and Daniel Michael

Masters Men's Physique

1 Graham Dawes

2 Gladstone Simpson

3 Dale Mason

also competed: Huw Yearsley and Richard Davis

Masters Bikini Fitness

1 Szilvia Babinszki

2 Hayley Fenning

3 Zoey Hughes

Masters Bodyfitness

1 Lucy Bravington

Classic Bodybuilding

1 Anthony Larson

2 Lee Wilson

3 Fraser McLaughlan

Bodyfitness

1 Tilly James

2 Lucy Bravington

Bodybuilding up to 70 kg

1 Justin Crunkhorn

Bodybuilding up to 80 kg

1 Jonathan Lock

2 James Kennedy

3 Andy Osbourne

Bodybuilding up to 90 kg

1 Andrew Hall

Bodybuilding over 90 kg

1 Besjan Osmani

2 Keith Evans

Classic Physique

1 Ruben Lermo

2 Vladimirs Vinogradovs

3 Hamed Mehdipout

Bikini Fitness up to 164 cm

1 Ernestina Portnaja

2 Szilvia Babinszki

3 Alice Richardson

also competed: Dorota Bakalarz and Emma Davies

Bikini Fitness up to 169 cm

1 Zoey Hughes

Bikini Fitness over 169 cm

1 Hayley Fenning

Muscular Men's Physique

1 Mizan Rahman

Men's Physique up to 173 cm

1 Dale Mason

Men's Physique up to 179 cm

1 Samson Olatunji

2 Sam Nuthall

3 Alin Docan

Men's Physique over 179 cm

1 Gladstone Simpson

2 Stanley Rohal

3 Brad Trerise

also competed: Richard Davis and Triston Lomas