by MIKE KING

'BLACK HERCULES' PATRICK NICHOLLS, one of the leading jewels in this country's bodybuilding history, wants to return home and work in collaboration with the National Sports Council (NSC) to revive the sport.

Nicholls, who has been resident in England since 1987, in an exclusive interview with MIDWEEK SPORT, is now a qualified massage therapist and is keen to place his expertise at the disposal of the Government-run NSC.

"Since retiring from competitive bodybuilding in1998. I have kept myself busy doing personal training to people of all walks of life, which includes muscle tissue gains, toning, fat loss, rehabilitation programmes from injuries or after surgery, incorporating nutritional advice.

"I have successfully trained three British champions in bodybuilding. Troy Brown along with Abu and JD Dawadu. I have also studied sports massage and sports injuries and have gained two diplomas from this which qualifies me as a sports injuries and massage therapist.

"I am really looking forward to coming home and working with the local sports council in whatever capacity my knowledge and experience would be helpful in improving bodybuilding and other sports," said Nicholls, speaking on telephone link-up from his base in Essex.

Nicholls, 53, who was last here three years ago successfully preparing his nephew Jerry for the 2005 nationals, wants to see bodybuilding return to a position of prominence.

"I am concerned that bodybuilding is at a low ebb and that is one of the main reasons why I am eager to come back home and put some spark back in the sport.

"Bodybuilding once was second only to cricket and it hurts that the sport is now on the back-burner. The federation and those in the know, must do more to enhance it as a premier sport," he said.

Nicholls says his technical knowledge is not in any way limited to bodybuilding.

"I want to come back and give the sport a kick up the butt and get it going. There is a lot I can do in sport in general because with my qualifications I can work with a lot of sports in helping them prepare their programmes and techniques."

About six months ago, 62-year-old Englishman Ken Devrell, overweight and with a history of three heart attacks, turned to Nicholls for personal training and the former Barbados and Caribbean champion got him in such shape he was able to enter the London South East Championships in Middlesex, last weekend.

Devrell, on his first appearance on a bodybuilding stage, took third in the over-50 class.

Nicholls was part of the halcyon period of the mid and late 1970s when he along with Darcy Beckles, Loftus Roach and Bernard Sealy, blazed a glory trail with high-class performances at Mr Universe contests from 1976-79.

His toe-to-toe showdown with Albert Scantlebury at the 1985 Nationals is the stuff that bodybuilding dreams are made of. It was the first muscle contest that was brought live on national radio and will be etched in the memory of all those who saw the titanic light heavyweight duel.

Nicholls was a heartbeat away from capturing the light heavyweight class at the 1988 World Championships in Australia, losing a nail-biter to the American Renel Janvier. At the 1989 championships, he was third and decided to quit the mateur ranks and turn pro.

His best moment may have been at the 1991 English Grand Prix when he placed third behind Dorian Yates and Vince Taylor, a position that qualified him to take part at the 1992 Mr Olympia.

At the 1995 Masters Olympia in Atlanta, the clean-shaven Nicholls, known for his density and huge biceps, was third in the contest won by Australian Sonny Schmidt, with defending champion, American Robbie Robinson, second.

Nicholls plans to return home in November.