Talk about a full package.
Offering the muscles, the definition and the poses, Zico Best captured the National Sports Council’s Tiger Malt Mr Schoolboy Bodybuilding title while a confident Sabrina Newton took the Miss Body Fitness crown at the Lester Vaughan School on Friday.
Getting off to the usual late start and a late finish after 9 p.m., this year’s show had quite a few unnecessary delays, but still proved a success with the enthusiasm displayed from the over 90 students on show.
In spite of the numerous hiccups, the fans forgot the disappointment when the big boys and girls took to the stage, with Best, a Barbados Community College student, and Newton showing the confidence and form to become runaway winners.
Best, who had placed second last year, had the body and the definition to stop Kammeco Byer, and third-placed Ryan Hall of the University of the West Indies.
Hall brought the mass but except for a defined upper body he did not produce the goods below the belt unlike Best, whose rippling legs smoked the opposition. The lean and mean body of Barbados Vocational Training Board’s Byer saw him pipping Hall for the second spot.
“I feel good to see that I have been able to improve on my position from last year. I have persons like Stevenson Belle, Hoskyn Worrell and last year’s champion Shaquille Lavine who have provided motivation for me.
“I am looking to enter the Michael Riley Classic and hopefully continue my bodybuilding career that will take me to professional status,” said the former Coleridge & Parry student.
When newcomer Newton, 17, of Queen’s College stormed onto the stage displaying a trim body with sizzling abs and an endearing smile it was hard to believe that she had learnt everything which she needed to know “yesterday”.
The queen pointed to the work of coach Matthew Pilgrim of Pro Summit Body, who trained her for the event.
“I want to continue training and while I shall continue with my track and field particularly in the one and two hundred sprints, I want to see how far I can go in body fitness,” said Newton.
Once again Shaniqua Allamby of The Lodge School had to settle for the second spot although she may have been fortunate in putting the trim Brette Lawrence of the American University of Barbados into the third spot. Lawrence has the potential to be a threat but she could increase that potential by smiling more often.
The facial demeanour also hurt distance-runner Mary Fraser of Daryll Jordan, who was beaten by homegirl Rowland Kirton-Browne for the Upper Junior Girls’ bodybuilding title. The third spot was taken by Beviny Payne of Alexandra School.
The Upper Junior Girls’ 12-15 fitness provided a lot of excitement with the title going to Dari-Ann Gibson of The St Michael School, with Tristhan Dean of The Lodge School second, and the experienced Sankara Price finishing third. Price put on a top show, with her dexterity and some below the belt moves that thrilled the audience.
However, Price’s robust size may have prevented her from taking the top spot.
Once again Wilkie Cumberbatch and Bay Primary produced the largest number of competitiors with Roland Edwards, Belmont Primary, St Giles, Reynold Weekes, George Lamming and L.T. Gay also entering contenders.
Darcy Beckles Classic champion Hoskyn Worrell did a guest posing routine.
