NORTH-EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS

by John Plummer

Photography by Kevin Horton

You can view and buy photographs of this event here: https://www.ukbffphotos.com/2019/NORTH-EAST-CHAMPIONSHIPS

Competitors can order all of their images as a package here: https://www.ukbff.co.uk/ukbff-photos

The North-East Championships had the added attraction of offering invitations not only to the British Championships, but also to the Arnold Classic Europe.

So it was little surprise to see some of the best physiques of the year take to the stage in Pudsey, West Yorkshire.

With the Arnold taking place next month, and the British finals in October, the season is building towards an exciting climax.

The next chance to qualify for the finals in Nottingham takes place on Sunday over the bank holiday weekend, when all roads lead to Gravesend for the Kent Classic.

BODYBUILDING

Lee Swinhoe is building a head of steam towards the end of season. After his second place finish at the English Grand Prix International, which he only entered at the last minute, he returned with a bang here to win the over-90 kg with a much improved look. Lee has always carried a ton of muscle but he's made great efforts to tighten his waist, which are paying off. It will be interesting to see how he fares at the Arnold Classic Europe and the British Championships, if he chooses to do both.

The day started on a high with 21-year-old junior champion Douglas Price, who displayed a muscular and aesthetic X frame, and pulled off a nice vacuum.

Worcester's Martin Burford added to his vast collection of trophies with victory in the masters. At 49, Martin still has a well balanced physique, plenty of muscle and his conditioning was good. Posing to AC/DC, he brought back some noisy old school quality muscle.

Martin had faded slightly when he returned for for the open up to 90 kg class but still managed third. Runner-up Sergejs Kuliss hit some beautiful classic poses but the winner, Jason Payne, was a bit too big and hard. Up to 80 kg winner Dean Russell had a compact all round physique and was sharp.

Intermediate champion Daniel Kirkland peaked to perfection. He was really lean and had good shape too.

Przemyslaw Kowalski was the pick of a competitive top three in classic bodybuilding, His great conditioning helped him to excel in the rear poses and he celebrated by holding his daughter on stage.

FEMALE CLASSES

The three bikini fitness height classes produced outstanding champions. First, Chloe Greenwood sent her large following from Gateshead home happy with a brilliant performance in the short height class. For a young woman, Chloe has a complete look: everything from her calves and glutes to her shoulders and arms were nicely balanced in an attractive package.

Alison Werrell, who won the medium height class, also has plenty in her locker. With a great back, tiny waist and a simply stunning athletic shape, she was the standout winner.

Harriet Pearsey's cracking shape then took the tall class, ahead of Zoe Green, who had the consolation of winning the juniors. Both women are terrific examples of how weight training can enhance the shape of a tall body.

The balanced, attractive shape of Stefanie Blackburn took a strong masters bikini fitness line-up ahead of Natasha Arkley, who had terrific legs and glutes, and the lean Julie Stubbs.

Suz Ferreira's outstanding condition and well sculpted legs overcame Caroll Kerner, who always turns up in fantastic condition, in masters bodyfitness. Tanya Nelson's attractive package prevailed in bodyfitness.

Lauren Stone's miniscule waist and voluminous legs helped her win wellness, which featured another big line-up. Lauren is a confident poser with stage presence.

MEN'S PHYSIQUE

Condition was king in the juniors, where Eryck Wiecek's tiny but highly detailed midsection took first prize.

Nicola Rungo's tight lines and well groomed look claimed first place in the open up to 173 cm. Nicola was perhaps the day's standout men's physique competitor. His healthy and non-extreme look fulfilled the criteria superbly.

Jason Magee, who won the up to 179 cm class, had the kind if wraparound detail in his midsection that few ever achieve. He had far more than a six pack.

Londoner George Bordea took the tall class showing a nice taper.

Adam Schofield, a good looking guy with an impressive shape, won muscular men's physique and Fabir Ashraf's all round aesthetics catapulted him to victory in classic physique.

RESULTS

Junior Bodybuilding

1 Douglas Price

Junior Bikini Fitness

1 Zoe Green

Junior Men's Physique

1 Eryck Wiecek

2 George Bordea

3 Ciaren Fletcher

also competed: Kacper Bijak, Bradley Hall and Liam Tindall

Wellness

1 Lauren Stone

2 Jade Bullock

3 Alexandra Fairclough

also competed: Leeah Dominique, Suz Ferreira, Amy Hymas and Jemma Norman

Masters Bodybuilding over 40

1 Martin Burford

2 Farhad Kord

Masters Men's Physique

1 Ian Fleming

Intermediate Bodybuilding

1 Daniel Kirkland

2 Robert Burton

3 Steven Cullen

Masters Bikini Fitness

1 Stefanie Blackburn

2 Natasha Arkley

3 Julie Stubbs

also competed: Kelly Phillips, Rachel Spivey, Tracey Baker and Georgina Kiss

Masters Bodyfitness

1 Suz Ferreira

2 Caroll Kerner

Bodyfitness

1 Tanya Nelson

Classic Bodybuilding

1 Przemyslaw Kowalski

2 Liam Noble

3 Paul Clarke

also competed: James Booth, Leo Hare and Marcin Jaszczura

Bodybuilding up to 80 kg

1 Dean Russell

2 Leon Bird

3 Keiron Pemberton

also competed: Farhad Kord and Anthony Dacres

Bodybuilding up to 90 kg

1 Jason Payne

2 Sergejs Kuliss

3 Martin Burford

also competed: Szymon Skorski

Bodybuilding over 90 kg

1 Lee Swinhoe

2 Michael Walsh

Classic Physique

1 Fabir Ashraf

2 Arturas Plaga

3 Josh Turnbull

also competed: James Tarling and Louis Taylor

Bikini Fitness up to 164 cm

1 Chloe Greenwood

2 Georgia Brayley

3 Gerda Siaciulyte

also competed: Kelly Phillips

Bikini Fitness up to 169 cm

1 Alison Werrell

2 Claire Ellis

3 Natasha Arkley

also competed: Deborah Thornley and Naz Mosazad

Bikini Fitness over 169 cm

1 Harriet Pearsey

2 Zoe Green

3 Chloe Prince

also competed: Charlotte Lynch and Tytti Leinonen

Muscular Men's Physique

1 Adam Schofield

2 Oliver Wood

Men's Physique up to 173 cm

1 Nicola Rungo

3 Kacper Bijak

2 Omar Touray

also competed: Steven Simons

Men's Physique up to 179 cm

1 Jason Magee

2 Daniel Marr

3 Matt Revill

also competed: Louis Norris

Men's Physique over 179 cm

1 George Bordea

2 Steven Smith

3 Krystian Cmiel

also competed: Lewis Hutcheson, Boroghina Florin, Kevin Rosa and Joshua Smith