BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

British Championships

By John Plummer

Photos by Kevin Horton

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The first IFBB British Championships in the UK since 2019 took place in the West Midlands today.

A packed Bilston Town Hall watched the action unfold, as competitors added another chapter to more than 40 years of IFBB history in the UK.

This is the stage that has made global stars of the likes of Dorian Yates, Flex Lewis and Ryan Terry and some great amateur athletes of the past were in the building, including Steve Avery, Simon Fan and Michelle Brannan.

The event, which was the culmination of a year of UKBFF qualifiers, presented the chance to claim IFBB Elite Pro status.

By the end of the day pro status had been awarded to classic bodybuilder Angad Singh, men’s physique competitors Etin Nosa and Lordson Balogun, bodyfitness champion Hayley Fenning, bikini fitness competitor Anna Kuzmina and bodybuilder Mickail Boinot.

The overall champions Anna Kuzmina, Mickail Boinot, Lordson Balogun and Hayley Fenning.

MEN’S BODYBUILDING

Mickael Boinot’s monstrous muscle mass again proved irresistible. He first of all won the super-heavyweight category and then took the overall. He wasn’t the sharpest on stage – that distinction went to Plamen Handarov — but boy, he carries some serious mass and carries it well. Imagine what this guy will be capable of when he nails his condition.

Plamen Handarov crushed the opposition in the large under 80kg line-up with his condition. Runner-up Ryan Bremner had a terrific shape but nobody in the show matched Plamen’s conditioning – he was really peeled.

Jamie Stormont overcame the spirited Jamie Elliott in the under-70kg class. Jamie Elliott is one of the most energetic and eye-catching guys you will see on stage – his amazing routine was a hard act to follow but Jamie Stormont came out and did

Classic bodybuilding was a tight contest between the superb shape of Angad Singh and the more muscular Rus Ali. It was a highly anticipated battle between two guys with proven pedigree. Eventually, to wild cheers from his family and fans, Angad got the verdict.

Paulius Berzinskas’ condition helped him take the classic physique title. His legs also separated him from the rest in a quality field.

Finally, Kiff Nimo is a British champion. Kiff’s shape gave him the edge in the over-40s. He looked a little flat and dry to begin with but improved as judging went on to overcome the gnarly muscle of Stanislaw Gomola. Stanislaw’s disappointment didn’t last long, as he was back to beat Szymon Skorski, who delivered a well rehearsed routine, in the up to 100kg class.

The over-50s boiled down to a battle between the two biggest men, with Richard Reader prevailing against Dariusz Zuk. It was evident in qualifying that Richard would be a serious contender and nobody could match his overall package, and there were gasps when it was announced he is 57 years old. A great testament for his efforts and for what the sport can do to fight ageing.

Intermediate winner Daniel Wieczorex brought a balanced and aesthetic physique to the stage, with particularly good quads and back. Glasgow’s James McDonald carried a lot of well-balanced muscle to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Flex Lewis in winning the junior bodybuilding title.

BODY FITNESS, WELLNESS AND WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE

Bodyfitness was one of the hardest classes to judge because there were so many quality, but contrasting, physiques. In the end, victory went to Hayley Fenning, who was steadily risen the rankings and taken a promising shape and moulded it into something special. She was rewarded with a pro card. Once again, her height and X shape caught the eye and her legs were tighter than they were at the English Grand Prix.

Runner-up Tanya Nelson had the best legs and conditioning. Her legs were sensational, with so much detail, shape and cuts. If there were two height classes she would now be a national champion. Vita Bielkini in third is the epitome of balanced bodyfitness beauty, with superb glutes, but her conditioning wasn’t quite there this time.

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since Ruth Pierronnet won this class. These days Ruth, from Dundee, often competes at the same show as her daughter, who is making her mark in bikini fitness, and still looks absolutely sensational with jaw-dropping shoulders but o this occasion she had to settle for fourth, ahead of Amy Cox.

Angelika Prejna’s victory in wellness was no surprise, given the way she has been picking up trophies this year, but it was not a formality. Ankita Sabharal challenged her hard, showing a terrific back as well as a wonderful wellness lower body and could have got the nod but Angelika is the epitome of wellness and got the win.

Claire Johnson brought the total package to the stage to win women’s physique. Claire’s physique is outstanding but she wasn’t taking any chances – everything from her posing to hair to her tan was flawless.

 MEN’S PHYSIQUE

Matthew Bicar showed in qualifying that he would be a force at the finals and he didn’t disappoint. He has got tremendous upper body proportions and came in sharp enough to show it off, making him the clear winner.

Marius Boroghina finished a busy year with success in the up to 179cm class ahead of Hamed Reza Jalilyan. Kai Zhou in third perhaps had the best shape but needed to be sharper.

In the tall class, Lordson Balogun achieved something few people have done in the UK — defeated one of the Nosa brothers. His spectacular V taper and conditioning proved too much on the day.

But four-time Arnold Classic Europe silver medallist Etin Nosa was in a league of his own in the masters’ class, giving a demonstration of not only a top quality physique but also how to present it.

Bobby Okodogbe’s solid and tapered look earned him the junior title.

In muscular men’s physique, Callum McGuirk’s biggest chest gave him the edge over Kieran Peters. It capped a remarkable return to the stage after seven years away for Blackpool gym owner Callum, whose physique has undergone a complete makeover this year.

BIKINI FITNESS CLASSES

Anna Kuzmina’s amazing autumn continued as she claimed her height class and then the coveted pro card. A few weeks ago Anna made her mark on the international scene by placing in the top six at the Arnold Classic Europe and now she is a national champion and a pro with the IFBB. Her glutes gave her attractive overall package the edge over her rivals.

Madonna Douglas’ superior lower body helped her win the up to 169 cm class ahead of consistent top contender Zoey Hughes.

Sophie Dawson’s attractive and balanced package won a competitive up to 166cm line-up ahead of Ashleigh Jackson, who once again brought a complete and polished package to the stage and could easily have finished first, and the effervescent Ernestina Asson, who is always in the shake-up for top spot.

Zydrune Misiunaite joined a long list of outstanding up to 163cm British bikini fitness champions, thanks to her balance and presentation, which prevailed in a close duel with Rositsa Dzhenkova.

Alex Brooks rounded off a remarkable year in style by winning the masters’ title. This was Alex’s fourth show of a long season that started off with victory at the Scottish Championships in the spring. She’s turned up in shape every time and gone home a winner, but this victory, in a deep line-up headed by the fuller Renata Simeone, was her best yet. She also finished second in her open class.

RESULTS

OVERALL BODYBUILDING CHAMPION: Mickael Boinot

OVERALL BIKINI FITNESS CHAMPION: Anna Kuzmina

OVERALL MEN’S PHYSIQUE CHAMPION: Lordson Balogun

Junior Bodybuilding

1 James McDonald

Junior Men’s Physique

1 Jason Sehdev

2 Bobby Okodogbe

Intermediate Bodybuilding

1 Daniel Wieczorex

Classic Physique

1 Paulius Berzinskas

2 Alvydas Daunoras

3 Ivo Eglitis

4 Ben Parry

5 Martin Wydra

Masters Bodybuilding over-40

1 Kiff Nimo

2 Stanislaw Gomola

3 Mark Clements

4 John ‘Woodie’ Stenning

5 Mark Huntingford

6 Lucas Queiroz

Masters Bodybuilding over-50

1 Richard Reader

2 Dariusz Zuk

3 Dean Harris

4 John Duavet

5 Peter Banks

6 Elton Martin

Also competed: Andy McMullan and Manuel McDonald

Classic Bodybuilding

1 Angad Singh

2 Rus Ali

3 Paulius Berzinskas

5 Mark Huntigford

4 Marcos Berni

Bodybuilding up to 70kg

1 Jamie Stormont

2 Jamie Elliott

3 Martin Wydra

4 Kevin Norris

Bodybuilding up to 80kg

1 Plamen Handarov

2 Ryan Bremner

3 Marcos Berni

4 Macbeth Fernandes

5 Dean Larkin

6 Dean Harros

Also competed: Kurt Millward and Leon Jackson

Bodybuilding up to 90kg

1 Sean Irwin

2 Pranav Poorna

3 John Stenning

Bodybuilding up to 100kg

1 Stanislaw Gomola

2 Szymon Skorski

Bodybuilding over 100kg

1 Mickael Boinot

2 Kiff Nimo

Masters Men’s Physique

1 Etin Nosa

2 Alex Lemus

3 Paul Richards

4 Felix Habarugira

5 Parvinder Powar

6 Ben Hartwell

Also competed: Felix McAlinden and Kurt Brogan

Women’s Physique

1 Claire Johnson

Junior Bikini Fitness

1 Olivia Pierronnet

Masters Bikini Fitness

1 Alex Brooks

2 Renata Simeone

3 Zydrune Misiunaite

4 Anne Bulmer

5 Anna Stupienko

6 Ela Aghdam

Also competed: Madonna Douglas, Zoey Hughes and Fabiana Martins

Masters Body Fitness

1 Hayley Fenning

2 Tanya Nelson

3 Vita Bielkini

4 Ruth Pierronnet

5 Amy Cole

Bodyfitness

1 Hayley Fenning

2 Tanya Nelson

3 Vita Bielkini

4 Ruth Pierronnet

5 Amy Cole

Men’s Physique up to 173cm

1 Matthew Bicar

2 Gabriez Rusu

3 Dobromir Hristov

4 Diogo Moraes

5 Kurt Brogan

Men’s Physique up to 179cm

1 Marius Boroghina

2 Hamed Reza Jalilyan

3 Kai Zhou

4 Ben Hartwell

5 Lucian Croitoru

Men’s Physique over 179cm

1 Lordson Balogun

2 Etin Nosa

3 Kuldeep Chana

4 Peet Rothwell

5 Damien Wood

6 Felix Habarugira

also competed: Bobby Okodogbe

Muscular Men’s Physique

1 Callum McGuirk

2 Kieran Peters

Wellness

1 Angelika Prejna

2 Ankita Sabharal

3 Tanya Johnson

4 Shanda Carr

5 Irina Bozenkova

Bikini Fitness under 163cm

1 Zydrune Misiunaite

2 Rositsa Dzhenkova

3 Olivia Pierronnet

4 Deborah Thornley

5 Berin Beyhan Hasan

6 Fabiana Martins

Bikini Fitness up to 166cm

1 Sophie Dawson

2 Ashleigh Jackson

3 Ernestina Asson

4 Zuzana Tvrda

Bikini Fitness up to 169cm

1 Madonna Douglas

2 Zoey Hughes

3 Livvy Fowler

Bikini Fitness over 169cm

1 Anna Kuzmina

2 Alex Brooks

3 Halie Harasyn

4 Renata Simeone

5 Cleopatra Pronska

6 Anna Stupienko

also competed: Emily Townsend