By Emmerson Campbell
On a night when the local bodybuilding stars showcased their talent, Kerwin Clarke shone the brightest on Saturday, clinching two titles at this year’s third biennial Malta Supreme Hugh Ross Classic (HRC) Bodybuilding & Fitness Show at the National Cultural Centre.
Clarke of Buddy’s Gym, is the new HRC King after he copped the welterweight and overall titles at Guyana’s premier bodybuilding event.
The 24-year-old muscleman dazzled the small crowd at the venue when he displayed his rippling abdominals, well defined quadriceps and sculpted arms in his free posing routine and compulsory poses.
In the pose down of categorical winners which included 2010 Mr. Guyana Clint Duke, Clarke’s physique stood above all as he displayed superior symmetry, muscularity and vascularity, the three main aspects of a bodybuilder than a judge would look for.
Clarke, a crowd favourite, had no difficulty in gaining the nod of the judges for the top position after executing the seven 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 sculpted physique.
In the welterweight category (155 to 165 pounds), Clarke took the spoils ahead of legendary bodybuilder 54-year-old Lindie Sharpe of Universal Barbel Club of Linden and Selwyn Grogan of Interline Fitness Gym respectively.
Duke, of Total Fitness, was the winner of the highly competitive light middleweight category (166 to 176 pounds) taking the top honours over Interline’s Alfred Jordan and Jordan’s gym mate Dillon Harlequin.
The 2010 HRC bantamweight (under 143 pounds) category winner, Devon Davis of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym, once again took home the winning spoils for that category. Davis out-posed and out-flexed the reigning 2012 Intermediate overall champion Eybo Orford of Total Fitness gym and Musclemania’s Yogeshwar Nirmal respectively.
The lightweight category (144lbs – 154lbs) which attracted the most competitors, turned out to be the most competitive category as the judges requested two separate comparisons before arriving at the top performers.
When the comparisons were over, Marlon Bennett of Total Fitness walked away with the first prize ahead of Total Fitness’ Travis Peters and Alston Lancaster of Winderoju Gym of Berbice.
In the heavyweight division (above 176 pounds), Michael Dos Santos of Interline copped the first place trophy ahead of Buddy’s Sean Henry and Dwayne Mars of Fitness Zone Gym.
Track and Field sprint queen, Alisha Fortune from the GDF Gym left her running suit and spikes at home and donned her high heels and swimsuit and took home her third HRC bodybuilding title. Fortune was the lone female competitor on Saturday night.
Nadina Taharally from the Interline Fitness Gym,was adjudged this year’s Female Figure winner. Taharally got the judges nod ahead of track and field athlete of GDF Letitia Myles and BodyMaxx’s Ashanti Fortune.
Each of the 38 athletes received supplement packages compliments of Fitness Express.
Despite the absence of Brazilian bodybuilder Andre Luiz Da Silva who was scheduled to be the guest poser, the event was deemed a success. According to members of the Committee Da Silva missed his connecting flight from Belem to Paramaribo.
The Committee apologized to the fans for the no-show and thanked professional bodybuilder Sylvan Gardener for accepting a late invitation.
Besides Fitness Express and Banks DIH Limited, other sponsors for tonight’s event include Mohamed’s Enterprise, Mohamed’s General Store, Windjammer Hotel, International Pharmaceutical Agency, GT&T, Khalifa Habibulla, Fazia’s Collection, Hand-in-Hand, Dhanson Trading, Buddy’s Gym, Sanjay’s General Store, Colours Boutique, Star Party Rental, Chase Academic Foundation and Planet Fitness Pro.
The inaugural HRC was held in 2008, while the second one was held in 2010. Lindener Mark ‘Uno’ Perry was 2008’s overall winner, while Royston Booker was 2010’s overall winner.
Caption This year’s Hugh Ross Classic Overall winner Kerwin Clarke is flanked by Hugh Ross and some main sponsors for Saturday night’s event from left is CEO of Fitness Express Jamie McDonald, Reginald Persaud of International Pharmaceutical Agency and Clayton McKenzie, Brand Manager of Non Alcoholic Beverages of Banks DIH Limited. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Caption Third Time’s a Charm! Alisha Fortune posed and flexed her way to her third female Hugh Ross Classic bodybuilding title on Saturday night at the National Cultural Centre. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Caption this year’s Female Figure winner Nadina Tarahally is flanked by first runner up Letitia Myles (left) and third place finisher Ashanti Fortune. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
