Vengeance?is sweet and redemption is sweeter.
Hard and cut like a diamond, Hoskyn “Biscuits” Worrell brought the wow factor and swept aside the challenge of favourite Stevenson Belle to steal the thunder at the Darcy Beckles Invitational (Bodybuilding) Classic before a standing room only audience at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Saturday night.
This was an emphatic victory for Worrell, who brought his “A game” for the duel of the titans, outgunning the 32-year-old Belle in terms of condition and rivalling him for size.
Worrell pounded the stage with 177 pounds of muscle with gleaming intercostals, six-pack abdominals and a rear back double biceps that was second to none.
Belle, who over the past few months had conquered Worrell in Trinidad, Barbados and Santo Domingo, fought like a spartan but did not have the razor-sharp detail to match Worrell, who has now won five of the six editions of the Classic.
For Worrell, the 2008 Mr Barbados winner, this conquest was about more than the $4 000 first prize cheque.
“It feels good to be No.1 again. From the time I saw him I knew he couldn’t beat me this time. I knew I was in shape and would be hard to beat,” he said.
Belle, the reigning Mr Barbados and Central America &?Caribbean (CAC) light heavyweight winner, had some fluid retention and was well and truly beaten.
“Hoskyn brought his A [game]. I am not going to complain about the defeat, I knew he was on. He was in fantastic shape and deserved to win,” he conceded.
Former Mr Bridgetown winners Laron Gibson and Dorell Coulthrust were third and fourth, respectively, in the seven-man contest.
Last year’s Mr Barbados Ramon Broomes finished at the back of the field. Stepping on stage for the first time this season, he was smooth and clearly not in top condition.
Dazzling Sammy Eastmond, the CAC lightweight champion, showcasing rock hard glutes and hamstrings, took fifth, while Dave Archer, 27, completed the top six.
Earlier, Gibson, 25, had a controversial and hard-fought victory over Joseph “Runt”?Bourne in the open contest that attracted 15 men.
Bourne had the most complete package and may have been in his best ever shape with muscle popping from everywhere but was stunningly given second place. He looked a disappointed man and though he qualified, opted not to flex muscle in the Classic.
Eastmond was third in the open contest and Archer fourth. Two-time Mr Teenager Dario Bryan landed fifth, while Kirk Alleyne was sixth.
The Bikini contest, as always, was a hit with the audience, with the stylish Melissa Burrowes, who was second at the Nationals, the class of the nine girls. The shapely Jeanna Johnson nosed out elegant Dominic Alleyne.
The figure contest proved to be a slam dunk for the experienced Ramona Morgan. Her poise, tone and shape put her well clear of Sharon Coppin and Trinidad’s Jinelle Schulere.
