Vel’s Gym was the big winner at the National Bodybuilding Fitness Championship Saturday evening at the National Cultural Centre, capturing the Men’s Senior and Ladies Body Fitness titles. But that’s not all folks, for the first time ever a mother and son from that same gym located at Bois d’Orange competed placing first and second respectively.
The competition organized by the St Lucia Amateur Bodybuilding Fitness Association (SLABA) did not have a star studded cast. Familiar names like Monica Dudley, Melicia Thomas and Julian Felix were in the building but in a supervisory role. However, the absence of local building stars presented an opportunity for newcomers and there were a lot of them, to flex before a small but very appreciative audience.
The Novice category drew the most number of competitors with five young men vying for that title, with the winner moving up a notch to the Intermediate class. The novice division was competitive but in the end the judges were torn between number four Kerry Daniel (Sidonie Brothers Gym) and number two Jn Claude John of Vel’s Gym.
Jn Claude, the son of proprietor of Vel’s Gym, Velda John who competed in the ladies body fitness segment, was a crowd pleaser with a sexy routine. His protruding pectorals were easily the best in that class.
Daniel though presented more of the total package with rippling biceps, impressive wing span and a lower body that was superior to the other competitors. He placed first in that division with John second followed by Yannick Herman and Michael Hart Junior.
Having advanced to the Intermediate division, Daniel found himself up against Verniel Stanislaus (Sidonie Brothers Gym) and Kurt Walcott (Vel’s Gym). To me any one of the three young men could have won this division. Going on shear muscle alone my choice was Walcott with Daniel right behind. However, Stanislaus who lacked the muscularity displayed by the other two competitors had a symmetrical physique which was good enough for first place. Daniel ended up second with Walcott third.
In winning the Intermediate division, Stanislaus would later compete in the main event-The senior division where he would go up against one of St Lucia’s impressive bodybuilders St George Prospere.
Spectators though would have to wait for this showdown- it was time for the sexy gals from Vel’s Gym to take centre stage in the body fitness competition. No doubt about it, the ladies went all to accentuate their most impressive body parts while strutting around in high heels and skimpy two piece outfits.
No disrespect intended to her fellow competitors, but for now anyway there’s no beating John. Furthermore she was out for revenge after bitter disappointment at the recent Darcy Beckles Invitational in Barbados.
The battle for second place went to model Vivia Lisson. Singer/actor Claudia Edward who made her debut finished third followed by Sheska Hippolyte. In the Senior Men’s competition, St George Prospere did little
training for the show. It didn’t matter. Despite being a late entry he was Mr Colossal from head to toe out muscling his only opponent Stanislaus. Turned out his only rival on this night was guest poser from Barbados Stephenson Bell.
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