2006 NABBA Universe Report

On October 8th the NABBA Universe was back again in its recent home at the Floral Hall in Southport, England. Commencing in 1948 with John Grimek winning the first Universe and with no event in 1949, this was the 57th staging of the Universe competition.

My comments on the Men’s classes are first, followed by my comments on the Women.

MASTERS OVER 40

This was not as big as last year’s class but the quality was phenomenal and one of the toughest classes of the whole Universe.  Each year this class is unbelievable and many of the guys would have placed high in the open classes, if they had not entered the Masters.

This year it was Dutch power. For such a small country they certainly turn out many world class physiques. It was a most clear cut victory for JAN De WEERD - an outstanding champion.  He was tall, had size, shape and superb condition and excellent posing.

Second was the evergreen star in UK bodybuilding DAYO AUDI. In almost any other year, this Masters title would have gone to Audi, such was the standard. Audi looked huge and fantastic but did not quite have the hard edge that his Dutch rival showed on the day. 

In third place was the fine and much improved physique of New Yorker HUGH ROSS. When Hugh last competed several years ago, he was disappointed with his placing and spoke of retirement. At that time I encouraged him to stay with it as I felt he had a special quality to bring to the stage. This time the judges rewarded that very special quality and we all enjoyed his most impressive posing routine. Hugh was born in Guyana, South America where he is a local hero.

In fourth place was Australia’s GRANT KING. I believe this was Grant’s highest placing at an International NABBA event and augers well for the future. Grant showed a good degree of hard muscle and very nice overall symmetry. 5th was the Latvian AIVARS VISOCKIS who displayed wonderful condition and is always in top shape. England’s DAVID STEELE took a well deserved 6th place and is also a man to watch in future events.

MASTERS OVER 50

This was an emotional double 2006 victory for England’s BERNIE COOPER. Bernie won this class at the Worlds in Dublin earlier this year and this time received straight firsts from every judge. A totally deserved and very clear-cut victory.  Over the years I have watched Bernie many times in the Masters class and always he has been the bridesmaid. It was obvious to me from the very first set of comparisons that this was Bernie’s year. His back is outstanding and his overall size and condition truly remarkable for a man of his age. Bernie was ripped! He is an absolute credit to himself and the sport for his never say die attitude. He has no obviously weak body part and has a great total package. Watch for the emotion on Bernie’s face when second place is called out and he knows he is finally the winner!

In second place was the Polish marvel ANDRZEJ BRZEZINSKI. He displayed great maturity of muscle but could not match the muscularity of Bernie Cooper. Andrzej lifted Bernie off his feet when his victory was announced!

In 3rd place was the tight and very symmetrical physique of Australia’s TONY RIZZO. This was Tony’s best ever placing at the Universe and matched his recent 3rd placing in this class at the World’s in Dublin in June. Tony presently is resident in Singapore and I feel that with a little more hardness, he can take this title in the future.

In 4th place was the very neat physique of England’s GRAHAM PARK. Former champion EARL MADURO had to settle for 5th place this time.

JUNIORS UNDER 21

With again 14 competitors in this class it was the best batch of Juniors I can remember in a Junior Universe division.  The very narrow winner was the handsome smiling “Golden Russian” VITALY GERASIMOV.  He had a physique literally from the Steve Reeves Golden Days of bodybuilding displaying a tiny waist, symmetrical, good condition and looks that did not hurt his chances.  He will be a young man to watch in the future as he matures into the open class. This was a second Junior Universe victory to Russia in the last 4 years, and although very close with second, it was thoroughly deserved.

In second place by one point was DAMIAN CLOETE of South Africa. He was the recent winner of this class in Dublin several months ago. With huge arms and not lacking in size, he did not display the same degree of separation and definition and it cost him the double. Two fine young athletes with nothing much between them. Last year he took 4th place in this class.  These young men are the future of bodybuilding and we need to do all that we can to encourage more young men into the sport.

3rd place went to the brilliant young Mexican, GIOVANNI AZPEITIA. Some of you will know him from his appearances in Musclemania in USA. This was his first time competing in UK and he showed great potential and excellent condition.

4th place went to England’s NATHAN de ASHA. He is a young man with great potential. 5th went to another South African in GRAISON HOM with Australia’s LUCKY HATZIPANTELIS doing very nicely to round out the top 6. He probably took the award for darkest tan in the whole competition!

MR CLASS 4

It was finally a Universe victory for long time English top competitor, PAUL SUTTON. He has a wonderful overall physique coupled with a very pleasing posing style.  Small in stature he is big in every other way from his superb symmetry to his shredded condition. He has fought hard and long for this title.

MARILANDIO PONCHET of Brazil made it two years in a row in second position with a clear cut win over 3rd placegetter LEONARDO FLORES of Mexico. I felt that Marilandio showed nice improvement this year but not enough to topple Paul. His time will come and his condition and size should win through in the very near future.

In 4th place was a real cool dude by the name of JERRY KOOLHOVEN. Not surprisingly from Holland with a name such as that, he showed great potential and I was impressed by his condition and energetic posing style.

MR CLASS 3

What a tough, close class this was with only a few points separating 1st from 3rd place. This seems to happen each year in this class.

In 1st place was a Dutch bodybuilder once again in NESSET ICLY replacing last year’s Dutch champion KHALID ALMOHSINAWI.  Nesset was huge, extremely muscular and in great shape such that he edged out ALEXADRE NATAF of France. Nataf had a more esthetic physique but was out-muscled by the sheer size and density of Icly’s physique. If there had been an award for most muscular man, I feel sure it would have gone to Icly.

In his usual ripped, outstanding condition was England’s own PHIL CARLON.  He was only a few points behind the 2nd place guy but again had to settle for a 3rd place finish. Phil has been coming up every year in both size and condition and always presents a totally professional physique on the day. In particular he has great calves – an area often lacking with many of his rivals.  However it was again not to be “his day”.  I still feel that he can take this class.

FERNANDO ALMEIDA of Brazil was only a few points behind Carlon proving again what a tight class this was. Australia’s ever popular CHARLES DUCA (formerly of Malta) was 5th with a very neat and hard physique with outstanding arm development. He has several World titles under his belt and is a true competitor.  FABIO DOS SANTOS of Brazil rounded out 6th place with a most pleasing physique.

MR CLASS 2

This was another outstanding class with a brand new star emerging in the shape of Czech Republic’s TOMAS BURES.  It was not just size.  This guy had class stamped all over him and there were no weaknesses in his physique. He was totally impressive from every angle and in every aspect of physique display. From his outstanding calves and overall leg development to his small waist to his superb upper body. Great rounded delts, wonderful arms, superb abs and most impressive of all – shredded condition. When he posed side chest, all the striations were visible in his delts through his paper thin skin. Not surprisingly he got straight firsts from almost every judge. I felt at the time of the prejudging of his class that I was probably looking at the overall winner of the 2006 Amateur Mr. Universe, he was that impressive.

In second  place was ALISTAIR SMYTH from Northern Ireland. Alistair showed great potential and presented a very symmetrical package which in any other year may have very well taken this class. This class 2 was certainly a class of new faces with many of the guys being quite unknown to me. 3rd place went to BABAK MOAERI of Dubai, UAE. He is another outstanding Arab physique in a similar mould to Sami Al-Haddad but with not quite Sami’s degree of density of muscle.

4th place was garnered by BRUNO MATIAS of France. He was another strong member of Olivier Ripert’s French team. These French bodybuilders seem to be on the upswing again and are a team to be watched. 5th place went to SAMUEL VIEIRA of Brazil. He had great muscularity but was not able to place any higher this time in such a strong class. Darren Smith of UK rounded out the top 6.

MR CLASS 1

These were the tall guys, the biggest physiques in the amateur competition and the last class to be judged.  Their presence is always keenly anticipated and not simply because they signal ”food time” at the end of prejudging! The big, humorous Russian ALEXEY NETESANOV finally proved he had what is takes to be number one after near misses in the past. Last year he placed 3rd. He came in leaner and tighter this year and it was what the judges wanted to see from him. He is a very funny guy, wiggling his head from side to side like a “bobble doll” when he hits his most muscular poses and pulling some great faces as he wrings every ounce of muscle tension and emotion out of himself. He was a popular winner with the audience too.

 In second place was JULIO CESAR DE FREITAS of Brazil. Julio was also very big and impressive but not showing the degree of separation that enabled Alexey to take the title away from his grasp. In 3rd it was the Dutchman GINO BARIOS. I felt Gino had slipped back a little in size this time from the last time he competed in the Universe 2 year’s ago. He has superb shape and when he gets it all together he can take this class easily.    NEVEN CORAK of Croatia dropped to 4th this time and still posses a most pleasing physique.  I would like him to come in with his tan a little darker as he looked rather pale under the excellent lighting.

RADEK LONC from the Czech Republic took out 5th place from the “Golden Greek” ELIAS TRIANTAFILOU.

THE OVERALL AMATEUR UNIVERSE

The Overall Amateur Mr Universe judging took place at the evening show.  In my opinion it was primarily a battle between the Hercules NESSET ICLI and the super refined quality of TOMAS BURES.  No disrespect to the other 2 class winners. They were all outstanding. However the judges preferred the total package of shape, size, density and muscularity of THOMAS BURES – 2006 Amateur Mr. Universe. He was a worthy champion and could hold his own in any lineup in any Federation, amateur or professional.

PRO-AM EVENT

As the Overall Amateur Mr. Universe, BURES now joined the other 6 competitors in this class.  The final result with victory to STEPH SINTON produced a Universe double for the Scottish star. Steph has won the Overall Amateur Mr. Universe in 2004 and has also won the Overall NABBA Worlds that same year.  Steph has the complete package and there is not a lot more I need say about his outstanding physique. His posing, his superb condition and his abs are all worthy of special mention.

Runner up was Overall Amateur Mr. Universe TOMAS BURES, with PETER ELVIS BROWN taking 3rd. Brown had the most massive and dense physique in the whole event.  All he needs now is more refining and tightness to give this title a real shake.

As usual the judging throughout the whole Universe was excellent and accurate and I had no disappointments with any of the decisions. The others in the Pro-Am class were CHARLES MARIO and JOAO BISPO DE ANDRADE both of Brazil, GOFF HARGREAVES from UK and BILLY BOURNE from the Republic of Ireland. Placing were only announced down to 3rd place at the event.

A very large and appreciative crowd was in attendance this year with a number of sponsor’s stands in the Floral Hall. Be sure you put next year’s event on your calendar for Southport! When we have the exact date confirmed we will publicise it. Special thanks go to all of the hard working officials too numerous to mention. A special mention to NABBA Chairman Brian Robinson who attended under the most stressful of situations and also a special mention for Val Charles. As secretary she takes much of the strain for the smooth running of the event and looking after all the various pressures that come her way.