The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

“ALL systems are go” for this weekend’s highly anticipated National Championships, according to Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation executives.

Returning to its roots, the BBFF has rebranded the 40th edition of the event as the “Mr and Ms Independence Bahamas Bodybuilding Championships” - the same name given to the event when it was first hosted in 1973.

Set for 7pm Saturday, July 13, at the Center for the Performing Arts on Shirley Street, the event will feature several categories of competition, including traditional bodybuilding, women’s fitness, women’s swimsuit and men’s physique.

BBFF president Danny Sumner assured patrons that the event will be on as scheduled, despite concerns of impending inclement weather due to Tropical Storm Chantal.

Chantal is expected to weaken and be reclassified as a tropical depression before it hits the Bahamas, according to the latest weather update from the Meteorology Department.

“The weather looks as if it will break good for us, people have been concerned about it, we just want them to know we are still on and all systems are go,” Sumner said.

“We are expecting 30-40 competitors all together and about 12-15 from Grand Bahama. This year we will also have a much anticipated special addition, the introduction of the high school division. Tickets are still available from various gyms and we invite the public to come out and continue the independence celebration at the show.”

The National Championships, according to Sumner, will crown the Mr and Ms Bahamas champions and will be used to select the national team that is expected to represent the Bahamas at the 2013 Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 19-23.

The team will be picked based on the overall performances of each athlete.

This year the BBFF will induct nine members to its Hall of Fame while 32 athletes and administrators will also be awarded for the role they played within the past 40-year period in the development of bodybuilding and fitness.

“The show will include traditional bodybuilding, women’s fitness, women’s swimsuit and male physique which is a relatively new discipline into the federation.

The first Mr Independence Bahamas was Neil Dean and Jeremy Knowles was the junior champion.

Knowles went on to win six national titles.

The first Ms Bahamas was Della Thomas.

The honourees this year are Jeremy Knowles, former Mr Bahamas, Dwight Palacious from Grand Bahama, the late Melonie Feaster, also from Grand Bahama, Henry Charlton, considered one of the best posers in the region, Sam Williams, Della Thomas, the first Bahamian female to win an international medal, Maxine Darville, a former Ms Bahamas who also won numerous international medals, Amos Saunders and Baldwin Darling, a former bodybuilder who played a key role as an administrator and coach in Grand Bahama.

Among the list of more than 30 additional honourees are Kingsley Poitier, Glen Wells, Eddison Deleveaux, Arthur Eldon, Ray and Jenny Whylly, Bert Bell, Sherwin ‘Breaker’ Major and strongman Keith Capron.