The national Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships have got the star power so badly needed. That’s because former Barbados champion Martinus Durrant is back and promising to rock the stage with 198 pounds of muscle.
Durrant’s mouthwatering showdown with Ramon Broomes and Kirk Alleyne will almost certainly be the meat and drink of the Nationals slated for Saturday at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Broomes was an impressive winner of last month’s Mr Bridgetown and will be hard to beat if he reproduces that form, but if there is one man who can knock him off, it is the resilient Durrant, who has a proven track record over the last two decades.
Durrant returned to the stage last year for the first time in five years with a second place in the heavyweight class at the SportsWorld Classic in Tobago, and a resounding win at the Mr St Michael Classic.
Disqualified
He was hoping to compete at the 2017 Nationals but according to the World Anti-Doping Code, Durrant, who had retired from the sport, should have undergone a drug test before making his comeback.
The St Vincent-born Durrant has been cleared to compete and is relishing the chance to flex his muscles.
“I have been through the procedure and the tests have come back negative. I was cleared to compete at last November’s Darcy Beckles Invitational Classic but I opted to skip that show and come for this year’s Nationals.
“I am on track and ready. Actually, I am bigger and harder than last year’s St Michael show,” he said.
Durrant, the 2012 Darcy Beckles Invitational Classic winner, acknowledged that he will have to be at his best to knock off a rejuvenated Broomes.
‘Ready’
“From all reports, Ramon was in top shape at Mr Bridgetown. It is going to be a showdown to remember. Ramon is in good form but I am ready.
“I have made overall improvement especially to my back, which is where I was lacking most. From the front I can match anyone in Barbados. It is hard to beat me from the front, but I have now brought up my back, my lower lats has improved,” he said.
For the past four months, Durrant, a former Parkinson student, has been training five days a week at the First Fitness Gym in Oistins, Christ Church.
Defending champion Hadley Hoyte will start as favourite to win the men’s physique but he should face a stern challenge from Nicholas Smith, who impressed with his triumphant performance at last month’s Mr Bridgetown.
Smith, 34, of Danesbury, Black Rock, has been making steady improvement and much is expected of him this week.
Deono James, a divisional winner at Mr Bridgetown, is also in the line-up which also comprises Adrian Wood, Tyrell Forde, Cole Yates, Julian Jones, Everton Branch and Fabian Eristhee.
The championships will be enhanced with a guest posing display from International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) men’s physique pro, Ramon Dodson. Over the past year, the dynamic Dodson has been busy in the Caribbean, conducting posing, nutritional and show prep workshops.
Dodson, 32, turned pro in 2015 after capturing the men’s physique overall title at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Championships. (MK)
