ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Martinus Durrant was a star performer as Barbados emphatically outmuscled their rivals and emerged champions at the 37th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships on Saturday night.

The Barbadians, also belatedly awarded the 2008 title after a statistical error, picked up six divisional titles en route to their triumph, and added the Mr CAC bodybuilding title through light heavyweight champion Durrant, and Renee Cobham’s Miss Fitness CAC crown.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Candice Carr-Archer was declared overall female winner after copping the women’s masters’ category.

Durrant and welterweight Hoskin Worrell won their categories and helped spur Barbados to 208 points, convincing 71-point victors over their closest rivals Trinidad and Tobago (137).

Former champions, Bahamas, placed third after tallying 115 points.

Cobham landed the Open Women’s Fitness crown over Nicole Carter in a Barbados one-two finish.

The triumph triggered huge celebration for the Barbadians, who had won the championships in the Bahamas last year but were only officially declared winners here at the general assembly.

“This is a resounding victory because we have won by over 50 points from the nearest rival Trinidad,” declared Walter Sobers, Public Relations officer of the Barbados Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.

“I think total team effort did it for us tonight. We were informed that we also won last year but that is a little late in coming but this one is definitely better than that,” Sobers added.

Jamilia Sokunbi and Ramona Morgan also claimed women’s body fitness titles for Barbados at 158 and 163 categories respectively and Junior Ramon Broomes won his category.

Barbados also secured five second places and four third-place results.

“All of our athletes made the finals and that contributed to our winning,” Sobers added.

James Darling led Bahamas quest for points after securing two major titles, the men’s masters and the middleweight.

Other category winners include bantamweight Hemradj Mulai of Aruba, lightweight Diego Salinas, of El Salvador, Bermuda’s lightweight Ross Caeser, Puerto Rican Juan Carlos Bega capturing the heavyweight title, and Jamaica’s Phillip Clahar, the super heavyweight champion.

Grenada’s Damien Daniel, who won the Eastern Caribbean championships in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year, did not live up to expectations and placed fifth in the heavyweight category.

Guest posers were Grenada’s Vaughn Francis, who won the CAC two years ago, and Dennis James, a fourth place finisher in the prestigious Mr Olympia competition, who came off the stage and posed his way through an audience of screaming female fans.

About 250 bodybuilders and delegates from 19 countries participated in CAC Championship which will be held in Aruba next year.