Heavyweight Royston Booker is new Mr. Hugh Ross

May 04, 2010 Sports

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Alisha Fortune retains Ms. Body Fitness crown

The new King of the Hugh Ross Classic Bodybuilding & Fitness show dubbed ‘The Ultimate Competition’ and sanctioned by the Guyana Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation is Royston Booker who muscled his way past the other competitors in the Heavyweight category (177lbs & over) before upstaging the four other category winners to take the Overall Title and bragging rights as the best.
Booker (Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club Gym), who is based in Canada and was taking the competitive stage in Guyana for only the second time, looked the part from his first entrance, putting away the challenge of runner-up Bruce Whatley of Buddies Gym, 3rd place Al Dowding of Interline Fitness and 63-year-old Louis Deane, a former fierce competitor but surely in the twilight of his days as a competitor.
Defending female champion Alisha Fortune did not find it tough in any way, comfortably staving off the challenge of her fellow Guyana Defence Force Gym teammates to retain the Ms. Body Fitness title which she won at the inaugural competition held back in 2008 at the same venue.
Fortune, one of Guyana’s leading sprinters also won the Best legs competition and received a special trophy from former GABBFF Secretary and President, Donald Sinclair who works in the Tourism Industry in Brazil but was on hand to present the trophy in person.
Unlike some of the other categories which saw the judges asking for comparisons between some of the competitors, Booker had no difficulty in gaining the nod of the five judges for the top position after executing the 7 compulsory poses (Front Double Biceps, Front Lat Spread, Side Chest, Back Double Biceps, Back Lat Spread, Side Triceps & Abdominals and thighs) which fully portrayed his physique.
Taking the Light Middleweight category (166lbs – 176lbs) was another leading Guyanese sprinter Rawle Green, representing Buddies Gym. Green, who has hit the bodybuilding scene with a bang as his colleague Alisha Fortune, flexed his way past Delon Harlequin of Interline Fitness Gym and veteran, 53-year-old Lindie Sharpe representing Universal Barbel Club of Linden.
Emerging as the top Welterweight (155lbs – 165lbs) was Alfred Jordon of Total Fitness gym located at Grove on the east bank of Demerara. Jordon won this category ahead of club mate, the experienced Clint Duke with Selwyn Grogan (Interline Fitness) coming in 3rd.
The Lightweight category (144lbs – 154lbs) which attracted the most competitors turned out to also be the most competitive category as the judges requested two separate comparisons to arrive at the top performers.
When the comparisons were over, Marlon Bennett of Total Fitness walked away with the first prize ahead of Alston Lancaster of Winderoju Gym of Berbice and Ronier Caesar of Buddies Gym.
Topping the Bantamweight (143lbs) category which attracted 5 competitors was Devon Davis of the Guyana Defence Force who got the nod of the judges ahead of Total Fitness’ Travis Peters and Winderoju’s Melroy Grant.
IFBB Professional Candace Carr-Archer was the featured guest poser of the evening and made a special presentation to the GABBFF President Fiona Harris following her onstage performance.
Guyana’s second Professional bodybuilder, Sylvan Gardner, the other guest poser on the night, excited the crowd as he posed to a fusion of Chutney Music much to the delight and craze of the audience which went wild as Gardner worked the various muscles in tandem with the music.
The evening’s activity was declared open by the Honorable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony who congratulated the HRC Committee and Hugh Ross himself for contributing to the development of the sport while encouraging persons to exercise and eat healthy.
Dr. Anthony promised his continued support towards the growth of the sport in Guyana. Ross, Guyana’s first Professional Bodybuilder delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the HRC Committee. He thanked all the sponsors for their contributions which added up in making the Classic a success.
Banks DIH sponsored all the trophies and medals while Fitness Express provided hampers for all the 1st place winners including the overall champion.
The full list of sponsors; GT&T Cellink, Banks DIH Guinness, Guyana Defence Force, Fazia’s Collection, Ming’s Products & Services, Fitness Express, Studio 2000, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Buddie’s Gym, H. Mohamed General store, Nigel’s Supermarket, Akbar Auto Sales, Boxer’s Cheap & Sweet Store, Tony’s Auto Spares, Sanjay’s Variety, Color’s Boutique, Dhanson Trading, International Pharmaceutical Agency, Ray’s One Stop Auto Shop, Terrence Adams, Giftland Office Max, West Indian Sports Complex.

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