Smith flexes to GABBFF Novice title

By Romario Samaroo

A sold out crowd at the Theatre Guild witnessed the crowning of Nolan Smith as the new champion as the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) hosted their Novice championships on Saturday evening.
Despite a late start due to electrical power outage, the show which a sizable turnout in competitors saw   Smith demolished the competition in the bodybuilding division while Roscoe Blair was deemed the Overall Men’s physique champion.
Smith got off to the first win of the night in the highly anticipated under-21 division. The Life Gym representative went under the gun as the crowd went wild over Kacey Bailey from Fitness 53 who in the end had to settle for second while Omisi Williams (Perry’s Gym) copped third.  The other athletes in that category were Lakeram Seeram (Muscle mania), Vishnu Ramcharan (Life Gym) and Christopher Ramkhellwan (Fitness 53).
Perry’s Gym had another good showing with Gravestone Lambert winning the Bantamweight division. Vickram Tallho (Fitness Paradise) secured the runner up spot while Lakeram Seeram ended the event in third. Ramcharan (Life Gym), Anand Mangal (Total Fitness) and Kevin Bheeram (Tej Mahal) finished in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Bailey again finished second, this time in the lightweight class as Arlinton Layne from Universal Gym won that category.
Odel Crumewing (Total Fitness) won the welterweight division ahead of lone GDF representative, Junior Cornette.
Smith added his third victory to add the Middleweight top spot to his accolades while Williams and Salim Mohamed finished in second and third respectively.
Speaking at the end of the successful night, Smith extended heartfelt thanks to his trainers and parents as well as those from his gym who he said “were the driving force behind this success.”
He noted that this was something he started back in third form but while that was only a few years ago, the under 21 star is now setting his sights on the senior category.

Much surprise of everyone, there were five beautiful ladies vying for the miss bikini title. This category exemplified the diversity the GABBFF has set into motion by bringing athletes from Linden and Berbice to add to Georgetown’s strong contingent. The evenly poised display went down to the wire as Natasha Chung representing Tej Mahal Gym, Berbice was crowned the winner ahead of Roshawna Allyne from Fitness 53 in second. The linden trio from Perry’s Gym, Oslyn McAlmont, Shanella Deana and Sherlyn Henry finished 3rd, 4th  and 5th respectively.  The spectacular showing of determination and mindset were put on display as 70 year old Louis Deane, on his birthday took to the stage to much applause of the crowd and stand next to Space Gym’s O’Riley Joseph and flex for the heavyweight title. While Deane finished second, the showing was a respectable and commendable feat by the birthday boy.
Another display of personal dedication shocked the crowd as GABBFF President and chairperson of the night, Coel Marks introduced two builders who were bound to wheelchairs but does not keep them back. The two musclemen gave a little display for the audience who encouraged them to press on. The two men were Ulyssess Edwards and Uttamkumar Issurdeen. Meanwhile, in the Men’s physique tall, Lance Gordon won the three way battle between his Fitness 53 gym mate, Damian Fiedtkou (second) and Fitness Paradise’s Darrin Noble.
Blair was unstoppable in the men’s physique short leading second placed, Bailey. Farood Mohamed of Tej Mahal, Robert Perry (Fitness 53), Ramcharan and Christopher Ramkhellawan finished in that order.
Meanwhile, GABBFF President highlighted that despite the hiccups, this was the first competition of the new administration and in his estimation he would give this body an “A” grade for hosting a “successful” competition.