Bodybuilding DVD Preview Clips: 05/20/12

2010 NABBA Universe Review
http://bit.ly/K8UUdb This class had 13 competitors, nicely up on last year’s entry which was unusually low. Last year’s runner up from Brazil, LEANDRO RODRIGO REBELO, could not reproduce his form and slipped to 6th this time. This was a significant surprise. Another surprise was the brilliant shape and condition of French champion, CHRISTIAN LACOCHE who just managed to eke out a victory within the outstanding and ripped Italian, SIMONE MEATTINI. If this got down towards the last 2 during the awards in the evening Show, I felt the decision could have gone either way. No doubt the judges during the morning session’s prejudging felt exactly the same way. Once more this was the toughest class of the contest, with 17 fantastic competitors including the eventual Overall Winner of the Amateur Universe, MIHA ZUPAN from Slovenia. How does this type of tiny country as Slovenia produce so many champions! It should be area of the national gene pool plus their amazing work effort! Miha is definitely an amazing champion with “freaky” striated glutes which were tensed every time a rear pose was displayed. Last year Miha needed to settle for second place which year he was not to be denied. His physique was sheer perfection in the great upper body, amazing back and great legs. Like last year’s winner he had size and was sliced to perfection. This class would be a disappointment with only 2 competitors. VALENTYNA YEFYMCHUK from Ukraine was the convincing winner with straight firsts within the challenger from Spain in SONIA CABRE. This takes nothing away from Valentyna’s victory as she includes a great physique presented with outstanding size, shape and hardness. It had been not her fault that she had only one other to beat. Valentyna and Sonia moved up from 3rd and 4th places respectively from last year. For that second year inside a row, in 3rd place was the Italian bundle of dynamite, namely FEDERICA ORTU. She presented a sizzling posing routine and that i still believe she has got the quality of shape and size and charisma to be a future winner of Class 2. The much improved UK competitor SILVANA IMBROGNO needed to settle for 4th place. A final comment on the competitor I felt a bit sorry for. I refer to 6th placed OLGA PROKOPENKO from Ukraine. She was obviously more of the physique class competitor than the usual figure woman, but she was too small for the Physique class and too muscular for the Figure Class. Her lines were excellent with great symmetry, however the judges had no where you can put her within this event apart from down in 6th position. This appeared to be lower than she really deserved. OHF Women's Best Presentation Award

Once more there were 8 competitors within this class with 3 guys from Brazil, and something each from Ukraine, Norway, Czech Republic and 2 representing UK. There would be a huge variety in types of physique in the small, compact and ripped physique of 2005 Overall Amateur Mr. Universe winner in CHARLES MARIO towards the tall muscular physique of JOAO BISPO DE ANDRADE – also from Brazil. UK’s JOHN WADDLE just missed out on 3rd place which went towards the young star from Lithuania in ERNESTAS GRIGAITIS. Ernestas had a confident posing routine and a really polished physique for one so young. The much anticipated tall guys come out last on stage in the amateur classes before it winds up using the professionals. There was no wandering out to visit the trade stands when this class of 12 came out on stage! The excitement level rose to fever pitch using the enormously popular and charismatic British champion DAVE TITTERTON up against the very talented Slovenian SASO PETEK. This really is the order in which they finished with Dave getting straight firsts for any most decisive victory. Dave’s physique dominated this class and his “presence” and natural charisma lights up the stage whenever he steps forward inside a callout comparison in order to pose. The British crowd simply love him. Miha did not have it all his own way however. In second place was the current Mr. Britain in DAVE GUEST. He includes a mature physique no real weaknesses and it had been just the sheer brilliance of Zupan that denied Dave the title. Dave also improved his placing from 3rd in the 2009 Universe. In 3rd place was the big improver in 3 time Mr. Australia, JUSTIN WESSELS. Justin has been steadily improving each Universe and has got the genetics and desire I feel sure to take this class in the near future. His biggest assets are symmetry, condition and posing mastery. Having a fraction more size while presenting exactly the same rock hard condition, Australia might have its first men’s open class winner in certain years. The last Aussies to get it done were Grant Clemesha - Class 1 (and Overall Amateur Mr Universe) and Shane Stratton - Class 3, back in 1995. Dave is shredded and outstanding in every bodypart, especially his rock-hard abs, together with a wicked most muscular pose. Probably the only way Dave can go one step further in the Overall Posedown is to include a bit more size to his tall frame. Saso was outstanding in all areas but did not have the condition of the Geordie star Dave Titterton.

AMATEUR MR. UNIVERSE In 3rd place it had been the massive LUKAS GABRIS representing UK. He has got the size, shape and genetics to take this class in the next year approximately if he comes inside a bit leaner and tighter. He displayed loads of muscle spread over his very large frame. A popular guy using the fans, he has huge arms and legs and being young, has many years of improvement ahead of him. In 4th place was the hug, ripped and scary physique of Austria’s WALTER LETTNER. He is just like a modern day Dorian Yates type, with rock hard condition and a look of raw power about him. He was 4th also in 2009, and that we now wait to determine what Walter can bring towards the stage in 2011 and whether he can lift it up a gear. Flora on the other hand had things i could best describe as a superb mini physique, perfectly sculptured on her tiny frame, with great arms, back and abs together with fantastic condition. This was all wrapped up inside a totally feminine package.

Hugh was born in 1959 in Guyana and, prior to migrating towards the USA around 1990, he served as an officer in the Guyana Defence Force where he held the rank of Captain. He is really a former power lifting champion and it has many titles under his belt. This helps explain the thick and mature muscle density he now displays as a champion bodybuilder. JUNIORS UNDER 21

Click the link for the DVD from the event http://bit.ly/K8UUdb

Sunday, May 20, 2012