The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN collaboration with the Bahamas Independence celebrations, the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation has set the stage for the hosting of its 41st National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

For the second time in three years, the federation will be taking the championships to Grand Bahama 8pm July 26 at the Regency Theater. The show will also include the Grand Bahama Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

“We had the first one three years ago and it was very successful and from all indications, this one is looking to be quite a success as well,” said federation president Danny Sumner, who noted that Grand Bahama president Rob Harris is working diligently on getting everything in order.

Sumner said most of the athletes competing in the federation are from Grand Bahama, so it is better for the nationals to be held there and they are anticipating that Grand Bahamians will come out in droves to support their athletes, both old and new, as there will also be a novice competition.

Competitors will by vying for spots on the team that will represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships October 2-4 in St Maarten. Random drug testing will be done by Dr Cyprian Strachan, the vice president of the federation and he is in charge of doping.

All of the male categories will be contested, but there will be no categories for the female bodybuilders as the International Bodybuilding Federation is phasing that out and concentrating more on the female physique, which is a combination between the male fitness and female bodybuilding.

“The athletes who have been training for the female bodybuilding will have a change in what they will wear,” Sumner saidt. “Instead of wearing the bikini, they will be wearing a different attire and they will be judged differently from the way they are judged in bodybuilding.

“This is going to be interesting because it’s something new that is going to be introduced to the Bahamas and also the CAC Championships. There will still be the female fitness with the routine and the body fitness that comes with a turn. And then there is the swimsuit segment.”

As a result of all of the changes in the female category, Sumner said there has been a decline in competitors for the female bodybuilding competition in recent years.

“The bikini and swim suit are very popular on the international scene,” Sumner said. “The females display a lot of poise, charisma, beauty and talent, so it’s going to be interesting to see these ladies perform, especially with them not competing in the bodybuilding segment at both the nationals and the CAC championships.”

Two years ago, the male physique was added to the competition and Sumner said they are noticing that a lot of the competitors are opting to compete in that event as opposed to the bodybuilding. Last year, we had about 15 competitors in the male physique and at the CAC level, there were about 60-70 competitors.

The pre-judging or semifinal is scheduled for 9am July 25 at the Regency Theater.

Registration for all athletes is set to take place on Friday by contacting Sumner, Dereck Bullard, the federation’s executive director, Lynden Fowler, the athletes’ representative and or Rob Harris in Grand Bahama.

“From all indications, we are looking at putting on a very big show,” Sumner said.

“We have Long Island competing with about 4-6 athletes, Abaco is expected to send down about two and we expect to have a number of competitors from Nassau join the competitors who are on Grand Bahama preparing for the championships.”

Jimmy Norius is the two-time defending male champion and the champion in the female category was Lorraine LaFleur, who is expected to step out in the female physique in the absence of the female bodybuilding category.

Dominique Wilkinson won the female fitness title last year, but she will not be eligible to defend the title as she earned her professional card at the CAC Championships.

Accommodations are being provided at the Pelican Bay in Lucaya for any persons interested in travelling to the championships.