Click on class name to view photos - Photos by Sharon Johnston

 

Report by Liam Armstrong

How the West was Won
BNBF Scottish leaves home, new pastures green, everything rosy.

This was the biggest Scottish to date with an awesome venue and 54 awesome competitors. The fist time in the SECC in Glasgow and the event was sold out. The stage lighting and sound were the BNBF usual high standard and the audience as well as being the biggest at any BNBF comp to date were loud and enthuasiatic, an amazing start to the BNBF Season.Big thanks to Extreme Nutrition for their continued support

Novice sponsored by ENROL-BNBF

The first class of the day was the Novice Class, never lacking in competitors, this year saw fourteen take to the stage to do battle. Surprisingly enough, the strength of the Novice class has improved annually to the extent that its top tier now represents a standard to which even the more well seasoned competitor would do well to emulate. It is no longer just a stepping stone to the weight classes but a veritable stomping ground in its own right.
Competitor number one, Prince Ayemere Odeh laid testament to this with a physique that displayed both superb conditioning and balance. His deep, thick abs and detailed torso are reminiscent of a young Dexter Jackson, crisp, dry and full. Structurally, capped, wide delts and neat hips created a pleasing V-taper that was especially impressive from the rear, perhaps because he seemed to execute these particular poses more efficiently. The separation in his glutes and hams was excellent as was his confident, relaxed persona on stage. If one were to pick fault then a little more size and flair in his legs, especially in the front poses would do well to compliment his physique. A pleasure to watch as he evidently enjoyed his time in the spotlight, a little fine tuning with his posing and he should do very well at the Britain.
Competitor number seven, Antonio Marques, was in great condition but unfortunately his rather bizarre front relaxed pose detracted from this somewhat. Displaying a lean, muscular physique Antonio really needs to stand up tall in order to present himself to the best of his abilities. A severely inflamed right nipple also did nothing to enhance his physique. Irrespective of its nature, it was hard to ignore. There is no denying, however, that Antonio was hard and dry and ready for business.
Competitor fourteen Iain Winter was well balanced, carried a good amount of size and had obviously done his homework where dieting was concerned as there was no problems in that respect. His legs from the side were especially impressive, showcasing a blend of detail and muscularity that other competitors lacked. This was evident once again in his back poses, the Christmas tree in the lumbar region perhaps the most prominent feature. Iain was well presented and posed with conviction, giving the appearance of someone that had done this before. His fluent, professional execution and well choreographed routine should serve as benchmark for other aspiring novices. With more size and a touch more fullness Iain will progress very well in the sport.
William Elliot, number three, carried a lot of muscle for a novice. Had William’s conditioning been better then he could have rivaled the competitors that placed above him more convincingly, however on this day it was not to be. Great arms, big full pecs and a very wide rear lat spread, everything is in place, it’s just a case of nailing that conditioning to show your true potential.
Competitor number nine, Jonny McDougall, was frustrating to watch as he hid his physique in a lot of poses. Much of the time, Jonny’s poses were ‘trap dominant’ which detracted from the true width of his shoulders and also prevented him from executing the front and rear lat spread effectively. The poses that he really stood out in were the abs and thigh and the most muscular, this is where his physique really came in to its own. He has great arms, a thick set of abs and a good amount of thickness in his upper back. His condition was good but he was lacking in fullness, being notably flat in the legs. With a good deal of work on his posing, a little less frowning and a bit of fine tweaking with carbohydrates in the latter stages of his contest prep I have no doubt Jonny could do well in future competitions.
After an arduous pose down, at risk of causing the depleted competitors to drop like flies the results were as follows. In first place, Prince, second, Antonio Marques, third, Iain Winter, fourth, William Elliot and fifth, Jonny McDougall.

Teens sponsored by A.B. All Trades

The next class of the day was the Teen class. Traditionally judged alongside the Junior class, this is the first time it has existed as an entirely separate entity. The excellent standard of competitor and the fact that the line-up comprised of four competitors in its first inclusion in a BNBF programme was very encouraging indeed.
The first competitor on stage was number fifteen Robbie Bell. Robbie had good size, especially in the arms and legs, but needs to work on his conditioning if he is to place higher.
James Cumming, number sixteen, had a great torso with naturally wide shoulders and a good V-taper. His conditioning was very good for his first outing, as was his confident on stage persona. James needs to work on bringing up his legs to match his upper half to make his very promising physique more complete, I am sure he knows this already and am confident that it will not be a problem for him.
Competitor number seventeen, Martin Dunwoodie, continued the trend with another physique that is loaded with potential. With a little more training he will get the size and detail he needs to place higher.
The final competitor in the Teen class was number eighteen, Calum Macauley. Calum carries a good deal of muscle for his age, especially in his arms and upper back. His most muscular pose would rival many a competitor in the Junior Class, with huge traps and a great deal of thickness across his shoulders and upper chest. Calum sported the most developed legs in the class; his quads were noticeably more muscular than the other competitors, as were his hamstrings in the rear poses. It must have been very close between Calum and James, but Calums lower half clinched the victory for him. Well done Calum.
First place, Calum Macauley, second, James Cumming, third, Martin Dunwoodie and fourth, Robbie Bell

Junior sponsored by Gracemount Gym

Another awesome crop of youngsters took to the stage for the Junior Class. First up was Andrew Chappell, fresh from his recent spur of victories in numerous other federations’ competitions. Andrew probably feels he has something to prove this year after his second place finish at last years BNBF British finals and he certainly did himself no injustice here. There were certainly some noticeable improvements to his physique which were complimented by his now trademark rock hard conditioning. In particular his rear poses have improved with more density and width across his back and more separation in his quads and hamstrings. Andrew was full and vascular but could have been slightly dryer if one were to nitpick. He presents a very balanced package that will undeniably improve with age, as will his posing I’m sure.
Next up was Stephen Core. Something of an enigma in the run up to the show, Stephen fulfilled all the hype and then some. His physique belied belief for his age. At twenty two years old, Stephen would have had to compete in the Novice Class had the new under twenty three ruling not come in this year, but by no means would he have looked out of place. His physique was hanging with thick, full muscle, most noticeably in the arms, pecs and legs. The separation and detail in his lower body was outstanding, one of the best of the day. Stephen is another one that needs to work on his posing for the Britain, at present he has a tendency to throw off his balance in a number of poses; a minor flaw in what was otherwise an exceptional first outing.
Number twenty three, Robert Lewis presented a very neat physique with great overall balance; his conditioning was also very good. Roberts’ physique came alive when he posed, he wasn’t as instantly impressive as Andrew and Stephen when he walked on stage but came in to his own during the muscularity and free posing rounds.
Nathan McCauley, number twenty four, was in good condition and sported perhaps the widest shoulders of the class. His arms were also a standout body part. With more size across his frame and a little more flair to his lower half Nathan will do well.
Mark Score is another competitor that has a lot of promise, it will just take time to fill out his huge frame, but when he does, heavyweights beware.
The results were as follows; Stephen Core, first, Andrew ‘Mushy’ Chappell a close second, Robert Lewis, third and Nathan Macauley, fourth.

Masters sponsored by the Fitness Factory

The Master class continued the exceptional standard in conditioning that had preceded it. Number twenty eight, Rob Carey, was his usual shredded self as was George Kerr.
Grant Gebbie had an excellently conditioned midsection, with more muscle in his legs and more size overall he will no doubt begin to move up the placings.
Charlie McKee was most probably the biggest competitor in the class. Charlie carries a massive amount of muscle in his upper body, especially across his delts. Pecs and arms, but never quite gets his conditioning right. His legs were slightly soft in comparison to his upper body and I feel that in this particular line-up conditioning was a factor that could not be ignored. When Charlie finally nails his conditioning he could really be a force to be reckoned with.
Ted Clifton took the honors in the over sixty class and George Kerr in the Over fifty. George, although a perennial victor in his own age group, presents a physique that will always contest for the top spots in any Masters Class. Although never the biggest physique on stage, he always manages to get in great condition and present a good combination of balance and detail. His legs are still slightly overshadowed by his upper body but this is something that George consistently strives to rectify, the improvements made are there to be seen at each consecutive outing.
Jim Blyth, number twenty seven, has a great physique; balanced, plenty of muscle and a good level of conditioning. If Jim could get a touch harder and improve on his posing, in particular ensuring that he holds his legs tight constantly, then there is no reason he could not win this class in the future.
Competitor number thirty one, Derek McMenemy, had good size, especially across the upper body. Everything is there, with improvement in his conditioning he will most definitely place higher.
In fourth place, Charlie Mckee, third place, Jim Blyth, second place, George Kerr, first place Rob Carey; displaying a hard, dry, muscular balanced physique as one would now expect from Rob, as consistent a competitor as one will ever see.

Guest Star

PNBA Professional and former BNBF British Lightweight champion David Hannah was this years Guest Star. A few weeks off the chocolate and Davy was in more than respectable condition for his posing routine. The amount of muscle that Davy carries for a man of his frame size belies belief. This coupled with a flawless posing routine made him a delight to watch and ensured a thoroughly entertaining show for the crowd. Rock on Davy.

Figure sponsored by Planet Bodybuild

The next class on stage, and the first of the two female classes of the day, was the figure class.
Jenny Garside, number thirty five, brought a great package to the stage, her midsection and rear poses being especially impressive. Her stage presence commanded the judge’s attention and her presentation was impeccable, most noticeably in her routine. The conditioning in her upper body was excellent, although slightly ahead of her comparatively softer lower half. Despite this, it was obvious that the muscle and shape in her legs was there and so didn’t mask the fact that her physique showed pleasing lines and good balance from head to toe.
Number thirty six, Ellouise Hempstead did well on what was her first showing. Although she was soft, her presentation was good and her shape showed potential, the taper in her upper body and flair in her lats being her strongest assets. Some of the male audience may disagree with me on that last point, however, as her evening routine was perhaps the most raunchy and provocative ever to grace a BNBF stage. It certainly got the judges attention I would imagine. A little too much at times for me personally but well done for embracing the freedom of expression in your own unique way. Mike we expect something similar from you on your next outing.
Competitor number thirty seven, Lynn Thornton, had good condition, especially in her upper half but was too lightly muscled and lacked the flair required to challenge for the top spot. Her presentation and stage manner were very professional and she accepted her eventual placing sportingly, unfortunately the same cannot be said for one of her supporter’s conduct in the back stage area where damage to the venue may well jeopardize the BNBF securing the same venue for future events. I sincerely hope not, as the positive feedback about the SECC has been outstanding.
Trudy Wood, number thirty eight, was her usual radiant self. Her posing and presentation are excellent, her physique is constantly improving also with great arms and delts and a good upper body in general. Trudy excels in the front and side poses where the imbalance between her upper and lower half are least noticeable. From the rear, however, it is evident that Trudy needs to continue working on bringing her legs more in to balance with her upper body.
Results as follows; first place, Jenny Garside, second place, Trudy Wood, third place, Ellouise Hempstead, fourth place, Lynn Thornton.

Lightweight Sponsored by Udos Choice

Next up was the first of the weight classes for the day, the Lightweight Mr. Class. Number forty, Barry Cunliffe, was instantly recognizable as one of the front runners. The size Barry holds for a lightweight is amazing, his physique appears densely muscled and thick from all angles. His conditioning was excellent; hard dry legs with striated glutes. Barry really needs to work on presenting his physique to its fullest though as his posing didn’t do him any justice, especially with those great legs that he possesses. Despite his presentation, Barry had everything else in place and was my favorite physique in this class.
Stuart McCulloch on the other hand was a very confident poser. This coupled with his neat, balanced package made him a threat to Barry. Stuart’s condition was great, dry and hard with striated triceps and an abundance of detail in his back and midsection. Nothing in Stuart’s physique stood out as such but this is a compliment rather than a criticism, everything was proportionate and flowed well.
Competitor number forty two, Andy Williams, is another powerhouse physique with plenty of good mature muscle on his frame. Andy competes out of Glencairn Weightlifting Club and it certainly shows in his physique. Andy was lacking condition in his lower body which may have hurt him a little. The muscle and shape is all there, it’s just a case of getting that bit harder.
Jared Clay, thirty nine, was in good condition but was too lightly muscled to trouble for the top spots, Jared has potential though and I hope to see him improve and progress in the sport.
Felix McAlinden has competed with the BNBF for a good few years now and has continually made improvements to his physique. On this occasion his condition was again good with more flair and definition in his legs. Felix thoroughly deserved his Britain invite as he has certainly worked for it. Congratulations Felix.
The results of the Lightweight Class were; Barry Cunliffe, First, Stuart McCulloch, Second, Andy Williams, Third and Felix McAlinden, Fourth.

Middleweight sponsored by St Mirren Fitness Club

The next class of the day was the Middleweight Mr.’s. First on stage and his first time in the weight classes was former Novice competitor Ryan Caddow. In my opinion Ryan has made some significant improvements to his physique in his time away from the competitive arena. He has made excellent gains in size and this was evident throughout his physique, his legs which were always a strong point in terms of mass are now even bigger and his posing has come on leaps and bounds. Ryan was not displaying his usual level of conditioning and appeared to be holding water, especially in the legs which I feel hurt his placing. Ryan is more than capable of nailing his condition, as he has shown numerous times in the past, and when he does that extra size will really make an impression. Rise to the challenge Ryan, it’s all there for you.
Next on stage was Raymond James, undoubtedly the physique of the day. Raymond has always shown potential in the past but had yet to fulfill it. Today he did, and then some. Raymond was rock hard and dry as a bone, his glutes were like cheese graters and his quads striated and feathered beyond belief. Raymond had the whole package; size, symmetry and conditioning, all presented flawlessly. His abs and thigh shot, rear double bicep and most muscular would rival any pro on the circuit today. The rest of his physique is up there also. If Raymond can keep his hand out the cookie jar and stay focused for October then there is no reason that he can’t be in the running for the whole hog. In a word Raymond James on this particular day was the ‘Damage’.
Alan Kemp, competitor number forty five, was in good condition and displayed his usual blend of great balance and symmetry. Alan still seems to me to be too lightly muscled for his height and will need to continue filling out his frame if he is to challenge for first place. Alan’s skin tone was far too light which makes it harder for the judges to appreciate the full extent of what a physique has to offer.
Number forty six, Andrew Lawrenson, had a pleasing physique with a hard upper body, a great midsection and a great lat spread. Andrew needs to bring his legs up to balance out his physique. Keep at it Andrew.
The results of the Middleweight class were Raymond James in first place, Alan Kemp in second, Ryan Caddow in third and Andrew Lawrenson in fourth.

Heavyweight sponsored by Pronaturalmuscle.com

The final Mr. Class of the day was the Heavyweight class, the conditioning of which was below the level that we had come accustomed to throughout the day. There were two notable exceptions however in Ian Hendy and Dan Lampard.
Ian Hendy, number forty eight, was an absolute monster of a man. The amount of muscle he carried was ridiculous. His quads were literally hanging with thick, full, striated muscle and his back was molded in a similar vane. Ian’s condition was excellent and his physique very complete, on this occasion it appeared that he was going prove too much for his fellow competitors. It is unusual to see someone of his size carry such good proportions. Ian could do with bringing his arms up slightly to sit better amongst his cannonball delts and massive pecs. In a word, a mountain.
Competitor forty nine, Dan Lampard, had a great taper coupled with good conditioning. Dan brought another very complete package to the stage that was hard to pick fault with. More size in general whilst maintaining the same flowing lines and Dan could be an awesome Heavyweight competitor.
Brian Lewis, number fifty, was big, full and soft in the legs. Brian has it all, great flair to his physique, absolutely beasting huge legs, great thickness in his upper body, his traps, arms and delts especially. He wanted to qualify for the Britain so it was job done, although he knows that the same condition on that stage just won’t cut it. I’m more than confident that the real Brian Lewis will be on show come October, most likely as a Middleweight, and if he nails it he can mix it with the best of them. Come on Brian, let’s be having you!
Competitors number fifty one and fifty two, John Melville and Phil Wharf both need to work on there conditioning. John just needs to keep on filling out that huge frame where as Phil has it all there, we just need to see it. When he finally nails it he will be a great heavyweight, no question.

Miss Physique sponsored by Crystal Feeva

The final class of the day was the Miss Physique Class. There were only two competitors but it was a very closely matched ordeal. Lyn Sneddon had more size than Laura Young but Laura displayed superior conditioning, both were excellently presented and posed well so it was difficult to see which way the judges would go. In the end however, Lynn won out. Her size and balance were chosen over Laura’s conditioning, detail and slightly less balanced physique.

Overall sponsored by Extreme Nutrition

With each class judged, the evening show almost complete and the entire audience still traumatized by the guy from Enrol’s ‘short’ speech it was on to the overall.
Prince, Calum, Stephen, Rob, Barry, Raymond and Ian all took to the stage for the grand finale, the crowning of Mr. Scotland 2007. The main contenders, those in the first call out, were Raymond, Ian and the Junior winner Stephen. After a host of symmetry and muscularity comparisons, it was becoming clear that one physique was just too much for all concerned. On this day, he was the full package and no number of comparisons could deny him that. The Best Wheels, The Best Presentation and The Overall Mr. Scotland was awarded to Raymond James, a clean sweep for the Edinburgh boy and one that he fully deserved. An outstanding start to the competitive season for the BNBF, lets hope that the standard continues throughout the qualifiers. If so, then it will be one hell of a Britain.

The Author of this report accepts no responsibility for anything at all whatsoever and wishes to make this perfectly clear from the outset.

 

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