Oswen Jones was named Mr. Guyana and Alicia Fortune retained her Ms. Guyana title when the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) held its senior championships on Sunday at the National Cultural Centre.
Inter-Line Fitness Gym member Jones wooed the small audience with his bulky structure to win the over-176 pounds class in front of Jaffar Mohammed of the Upper Demerara Barbell Club and national heavyweight boxing champion Mitchell Rogers.
Everyone who saw the towering Jones on stage already had him as a favourite to win the overall crown but Clint Duke and Rawle Greene in the final pose down, made sure that he would have to really work hard for it.
Duke out of Universal Fitness Gym in Linden, dominated the lightweight class, defeating Marlon Bennett of the Total Fitness Gym and Alfred Jordan of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)
But the decision didn’t go too well for the crowd in that category since many believed Jordan, who was named the Novices and Intermediate Overall champion earlier in the year, should have gotten a better position since he was a bit more defined and better looking than many.
Greene was the lone competitor in the 165-176 pounds weight class but that did not stop him from displaying his well carved physique
The national sprinter was a bit disoriented at the beginning at his free style routine after his original music selection was not located, but he made the best of the situation and performed well.
After the event, Jones said that his win was testimony to hard work and he was confident of coming out on top before competing.
“Honestly I feel great because this is the first time that I’ve won this title and it’s a great feeling. I would have loved to compete against Perry but he didn’t come but still the guys were great as well and I’m just glad to finally win Mr. Guyana,” said Jones.
The bodybuilder said that he would love to represent Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships set for Grenada from October 1-4.
“Well right now I would love to attend the CAC games. Presently I have no sponsor, I just go through all of this alone and so it would be good if anyone can assist me you know. But still I would like to go to the CAC and continue my good work,” the newly-crowned Mr. Guyana said. Fortune, apart from retaining her Ms Guyana crown, took the Ms. Body Fitness title ahead of Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts of V Fitness Gym.
The ladies were judged after they appeared on stage in their two- piece and whole bathing suits and it was Fortune with her slim and outlined body that gained the nod of the judging panel.
“After all I’ve been through leading up to this championship, its good that I can come out on top,” Fortune said after the show, adding that now she is hoping to attend the CAC championships. Meanwhile, Canada-based Guyanese bodybuilder Eustace ‘Robocop’ Abrahams was a crowd pleaser when he featured as the night’s guest poser.
When he was introduced, the lights were turned off and patrons were left wondering where he was but just as they became restless, Abrahams came walking down the isle accompanied by Fortune and everyone rose to their feet and gave him loud round of applause as he made his way to the stage.
“It’s always nice to be back and I’m very happy, so Guyana, show me some love,” Robocop said before posing to loud cheers from the audience.
Also as an added attraction, former Soca monarch Adrian Dutchin and his Kross Kolor recording group member B52 enticed the crowd, primarily the ladies, with several renditions of their popular songs.
