BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY 2

Report by John Plummer

Photography by Kevin Horton

You can view and buy images of this event here: https://www.ukbffphotos.com/2019/BRITISH-CHAMPIONSHIPS

Competitors can order all their photos from this event as a package here: https://www.ukbff.co.uk/ukbff-photos

Nick Bostock added his name to the greats of British bodybuilding when he took the super-heavyweight and overall title at the culmination of the two-day British Championships in Nottingham.

Nick took the main prize on a day of high drama that saw several others add their names to a roll of honour stretching back more than 40 years by becoming a UKBFF and IFBB national champion.

There was further emotion on stage when masters bodybuilder Chris Goldthorpe proposed to his fiancee – who accepted.

This was the last event of the 2019 season but not the last of the year.

The Sugar Classic, which is the first qualifier for next year's British Championships, as well as an Arnold Classic Europe and Arnold Classic Africa qualifier, takes place on 17 November in Leicester.

This event has had more than 200 competitors in each of the last two years and event promoter Dennis 'Sugar' Christopher says his phone has been going crazy with inquiries, so it should see the decade out in style – see you there.

BODYBUILDING

Bodybuilding was on the rise this year, not only in numbers but also in quality. It was great to see five quality super-heavyweights duking it out and a light-heavyweight line-up of depth and quality. Nick Bostock knows how to make an impression: storming to victory in the final qualifier then backing it up at the British two weeks later. Nick, who weighed 115 kg, is a proper super-heavyweight, and has the back to improve it. It was probably the difference between him and super-heavyweight runner-up Mickael Boinot, who had some fabulous body parts – his chest made every other one else's look small – but didn't quite have the same aesthetics. What a battle it was though. Local man Lee Swinhoe rounded out the top three, showing gnarly, brutal muscle but he didn't have quite the same width as the top two.

Light-heavyweight champion Ryan Kershaw, a short guy with incredible legs and a sensational back and arms, probably pushed Nick hardest in the overall. Ryan was slightly flat – if he gets slightly tighter and peaks better, he will be quite a sight. Few guys have had more success on the British stage this decade than Piotr Jablonski. With his incredible wide clavicles and great shape, he is a tough bnut to crack so it says everything about Ryan's physique that he beat him for the up to 90 kg title. John Gair, second last year in the up to 100 kg class, came in tighter and better but had to settle for third in the up to 90 kg division.

Teodor Dragoev seems to have found a way to peak perfectly in recently weeks, doing so again here to devastating effect in the heavyweights. You can't take your eyes off this guy's abs.

Middleweight winner Karel Moreno made his name with a superbly balanced and detailed physique to defeat Barry Cunliffe and Sirtaj Rahman.

Lightweight king Jamie Stormont displayed a fine set of wheels and lovely shape.

WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE

This was one of the toughest classes of the day to judge because of the range of physiques. Fifth placed Aneta Lemanowicz gave a mesmeric classic posing routine and displayed a lovely structure. She just lacked a little muscularity and conditioning but her potential was evident. Daniella Scozzi, in fourth, has begun nailing her condition consistently and her legs were full of lines and detail. Third place went to newcomer Julia Hunter, who has made a big impression this year, showing a beautifully sculpted and well presented physique, with glowing skin. Nobody out-conditions Suzanne Delazzari, who was once again the leanest woman on stage. She ruled from the rear but had to settle for second place for the second year running. The spoils went to Sara Harpin, who served notice in the final qualifier at Bedworth that she was a serious threat and so it proved. Sara has loads of shapely, full muscle that makes her physique eye-catching and she is now British champion.

CLASSIC BODYBUILDING

This height-to-weight class is now in its 13th year, and there can't have been many better conditioned champions than the latest one, Kieren Westlake. Kieren endured a tough final week that threatened to undermine his usual razor sharp lines but he hung in there and managed to come in shredded. It was enough to win firstly the up to 178 cm class, where runner-up Przemyslaw Kowalkski, who was wide and muscular and might have pushed Kieren harder if he had a better tan, and third placed Angad Singh, who displayed a very pretty physique with good conditioning.

Kieren then came up against Liam Noble, who took the over 178 cm class. Liam has an outstanding structure, with a tiny waist and oodles of detail, but his legs were slightly weak, which is something that couldn't be said of Kieren, whose superior lower body and conditioning settled the debate.

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE

Kent Classic champion Waldemar Biernacki celebrated once again with a Franz Zane-style hands-above-head pose as he took first place. Waldemar has a pleasing shape and was once again sharp, which was enough to overcome Krishaan Siva, who had excellent lines but was let down slightly by his shoulders. Michael Ryder gave another strong performance to round out the top three.

JUNIOR BODYBUILDING

This event gives promising youngsters the chance to join a long list of illustrious names headed by James 'Flex' Lewis. This year's champion, Thomas Lawson-Smith, was no freak but he was complete and balanced, which epitomises the way the sport is going. Thomas, who was watched by coach Steve Avery – a man who knows what it's like to win in Nottingham – is only 20 and could go on to become a multiple junior champion. He has lots of potential. Afterwards Thomas said he's like to add a little muscle to his hamstrings and glutes and have a go on the international stage. He certainly wouldn't look out of place, especially with his stage polish and confidence. Runner-up Haydon Woodcock was the only one who threatened to challenge Thomas but second place was fair reward for another young bodybuilder who has worked hard in the gym to develop his physique evenly and then diet seriously enough to show it off to good effect.

MASTERS BODYBUILDING

Condition was king in the over-40s where Darren Lynas used his sharpness to defeat bigger men. No one in this class had a better structure than Keith Nimo but getting tight enough to make it pay continues to elude him. In the over-50s, Richard Reader caught the eye with his size and structure but wasn't lean enough for top spot. Runner-up Mark Shaw was dry and hard and the winner, Neal Wiles, had the best overall package.

INTERMEDIATE BODYBUILDING

Adam Amini was the standout intermediate, which is the category for competitors who have never previously qualified for the British Championships. Adam's small waist and clean lines earned top spot, ahead of Sean Irwin, who matched the winner for muscularity but didn't have the same flow. Jacob Hammond's big tattooed arms helped him take the over 85 kg line-up.

FITNESS

Maggie Turner is now a two-time British fitness champion – only Irina Cotton and Emma Paveley have won it more often. Fitness is usually the smallest category because of its arduous demands, requiring both a top physique and a dynamic routine, and sadly Maggie was unopposed this time. She had, however, made significant improvements to her physique: her back showed good development and in each quarter-turn she displayed quality lines. Maggie will represent the UK internationally in nine weeks time.

RESULTS

Overall bodybuilding champion: Nick Bostock

Overall classic bodybuilding champion: Kieren Westlake

Fitness

1 Maggie Turner

Junior Bodybuilding

1 Thomas Lawson-Smith

2 Haydon Woodcock

3 Michal Odradka

4 Gabriel Loftus

5 Jordan Rutherford

Classic Physique

1 Waldemar Biernacki

2 Krishaan Siva

3 Michael Ryder

4 Luke Hands

5 Joe Bourne

6 Ciaren Batson

also competed: Gabriel Rusu, Yemi Adefioye, Dane McGregor, Hai-Anh Nham, Ivo Eglitis, Piotr Jablonski, Mo Abosediq, Jilson Do Prads and Nabil Ghandour

Masters Bodybuilding over 40

1 Darren Lynas

2 James Edwards

3 Craig Souter

4 Keith Nimo

5 Gabriel Alvarez-Serrano

6 Seyed Ravanbakhsh

also competed: Luis Abreu, Chris Goldthorpe, Justin Cronkhorn, Martin Burford, Simon Gheshash, Emi Roberti and Jamin John

Masters Bodybuilding over 50

1 Neal Wiles

2 Mark Shaw

3 Richard Reader

4 Kevin Fraser

5 Bernard Alexander

6 Darren Emerson

also competed: Peter Cramb, Dave Whatley, Dean Harris, Mark Bentley, Mark Herron, Nicholas Stupart, Peter Banks, Steve Robbins and Rifat Sicu

Intermediate Bodybuilding up to 85 kg

1 Adam Amini

2 Sean Irwin

3 Daniel Kirkland

Intermediate Bodybuilding over 85 kg

1 Jacob Hammond

2 Jake Dinchess

3 Fawaz Mourad

Classic Bodybuilding up to 178 cm

1 Kieren Westlake

2 Przemyslaw Kowalkski

3 Angad Singh

4 Anthony Larson

5 Steven Winter

Classic Bodybuilding over 178 cm

1 Liam Noble

2 Paulius Berzinskas

3 George Noval

4 Jad Douglas

5 Mansah Oteh

6 Paul Clarke

also competed: Miguel Dev Freitas

Women's Physique

1 Sara Harpin

2 Suzanne Delazzari

3 Julia Hunter

4 Daniella Scozzi

5 Aneta Lemanowicz

Bodybuilding up to 70 kg

1 Jamie Stormont

2 Kevin Norris

3 Justin Cronkhorn

4 Lee Hayes

5 Anthony Dacres

6 Dean Larkin

also competed: Darren Antoine and Emi Roberti

Bodybuilding up to 80 kg

1 Karel Moreno

2 Barry Cunliffe

3 Sirtaj Rahman

4 Jonathan Lock

5 Richard Henry

6 Jamin John

also competed: Alexandru Calin

Bodybuilding up to 90 kg

1 Ryan Kershaw

2 Piotr Jablonski

3 John Gair

4 Gabriel Alvarez-Serrano

5 Mark Shaw

6 Alexandros Masihzadeh

also competed: Szymon Szorski, Rifat Sucu, Gary Willmett, Martin Burford and Sergej Kuliss

Bodybuilding up to 100 kg

1 Teodor Dragoev

2 Aurimas Rimkevicius

3 Seyed Ravanbakhsh

4 Enzo Tom

Bodybuilding over 100 kg

1 Nick Bostock

2 Mickael Boinot

3 Lee Swinhoe

4 Otto Horvath

5 Svajunas Tamulevicius