Dario Bryan of the St George-based Fitness Workshop was crowned Mr Bridgetown when the  Mr Bridgetown Bodybuilding Competition was held before a large crowd in the Major Noott  Hall at Combermere School on Sunday.

All hail Mr. Bridgetown – Dario Bryan

Bryan, 22, at 192 pounds, brought the best overall package as he won the title from his gym mate Shaquille Lavine who placed second and Glen Collymore who finished third.

Sadly, only four persons entered the competition with Collymore who won the Mr Novice, content entering to boost the numbers.

Lavine, the reigning Mr Teenager, captured the title for the second time with a lean and razor sharp body. Zico Best came second and Laslo Byron was third.

The entrants in the bodybuilding competition were small, but this was not the case in the men’s physique contest won by Marlon Dottin who was a crowd pleaser. His appearance brought screams of delight from the female members of the audience. Former athlete Ryan Brewster, a rising star on the fitness scene, placed second and Allan Reid came third.

Domini Alleyne won the Miss Senior Fitness Competition. The well shaped red-head was the runaway winner ahead of Kara-Lynn Belle who came second and the curvy Melina LeBlanc who was third.

Domini Alleyne – winner of Miss Senior Fitness

LeBlanc was in winners’ row when she took the Junior Miss Bikini Fitness Competition from Anke Griffith, the fans choice, while Belle was third.

The tall and commanding Kathy-Anne Greenidge won the Senior Miss Body Fitness Competition. Her stage presence along with her statuesque figure ensured she whipped Janelle Butcher into second place. Nicole Garnes took third position.

Nakisha Downes was the lone competitor in the Miss Junior Fitness Competition. Despite the large turnout at the show, the low numbers in the bodybuilding competition must be a worry for those in charge of the sport.

Barbados’ Maurice Arthur has finished a commendable 15th from a field of 34 in his first ever professional outing at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Pro Men’s Physique Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennysylvania, held on Saturday.

Maurice Arthur

The category was won by Mark Anthony Wingson of the United States with compatriots Jason Poston and Michael Anderson second and third respectively.

Arthur was the only Caribbean entrant in the competition which also drew contestants from New Zealand, Canada and Russia.

Arthur, 25, in his first ever national competition last year, emerged as the winner of the men’s physique (tall class) and was subsequently a member of the Barbados team at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding And Fitness Federation Championships in the Dominican Republic the same year.

He won the tall class in the men’s physique and the overall pose down. Arthur is the first IFBB Pro Men’s Physique athlete produced in the CAC region. He is also the first Barbadian to turn professional after competing in just two competitions.

The resident of Bagatelle Terrace, St James has lavished praise on the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation for the assistance he received during his brief amateur career and the opportunity he was afforded by the BABBFF to represent Barbados at the regional amateur level.

“After winning nationals I heard a lot of people question my win and I felt as if a lot of people didn’t feel I belonged on the team being a new competitor and not coming from a known gym. However, I felt as if you guys believed and invested in my development and gave me the necessary feedback to be the athlete that won at CAC, a completely different creature to what went on the stage at nationals. For this I thank you and I hope that this support continues for local amateurs and that the sport continues to get the attention and support it deserves,” he said.

Arthur is scheduled to return home tonight.

Muscularity and fitness take the spotlight this Saturday when the ALLMAX Nutrition National Championships are staged at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre

Some of Barbados’ best female and male exponents will go toe to toe in what is anticipated will be a highly charged and close competition in most, if not all, of the categories.

For the first time in Barbados women’s physique will be exhibited. This category represents the evolution of female bodybuilding via the use of four graceful compulsory poses and a thirty second routine. Amanda Browne of Kracken’s Gym, Julia Davis of Brute Force Gym and Deidre Archer of J&S Fitness will be the first competitors in this category.

There are six entrants in the women’s body fitness and Ramona Morgan will have a chance to defend her crown, but look out for Miss Bridgetown Kathy-Ann Greenidge from Strike Force Gym who should be in top shape.

Ramona Morgan

Sixteen women will display graceful beauty in the bikini fitness category. The standard of competition will be very high as champions like Melissa Burrowes, Domini Alleyne, Natalie Webb-Howell, Janesia Pitt and Shakira Douglin will be hitting the stage.

Men’s bodybuilding will be well represented as over 20 men show why Barbados has dominated the sport for decades. Some of the champions on stage include Mr Barbados Stevenson Belle, Hoskyn Worrell, Laron Gibson, Joe Bourne, Shaquille Lavine, Dario Bryan and Mike Worrell. Not discounting the other entrants, the showdown between Worrell and Belle should provide for riveting stuff. Both have been training very hard and are looking in excellent shape. The veteran Bourne is also one that should attract plenty of attention.

Stevenson Belle

The largest category will undoubtedly be the men’s physique. Those to watch include Evy Bentham of Surfside Gym, James Sheppard, Marlon Dottin, Omar Benn, Jamil Jones and Ramon Dodson just to name a few.

At the end of the night MrM and Miss Barbados Champions will be crowned and the selection panel given the job to determine the composition of the Barbados team to compete at the CAC Championships in St Maarten in October.

In addition to the viewing of over seventy quality athletes, special awards will be presented. The main award will be the Winfield Bascombe Memorial Award, which was given to Loftus Roach in 2013. Audience prizes of gym memberships, fine wine and a Smartphone will also be available. Displays and samples by ALLMAX Nutrition, Barbados Yellow Pages and Green World Products will be on show as well.

Ten years ago Lana Richards would never have pictured herself competing in a fitness or bikini competition. Today she is singing a different tune after a superb performance at Saturday’s ALLMAX Nutrition National Championships.

Richards produced a major upset on debut last weekend at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in the women’s bikini over-172cm group competition, when she came out on top against the likes of reigning Central American and Caribbean champion Natalie Webb-Howell and Nicole Hobbs of J&S Fitness who came third.

Lana Richards made a stunning debut.

She told Barbados TODAY she did not compete in any sporting activities at school. However, after pursing a degree in hotel management and hospitality at the University of the West Indies and working in the industry for a while, she suddenly realized that was not what she wanted to do. So, she turned her focus to fitness and she fell in love with the sport.

“In school I was nowhere near an athlete. I was in the stands cheering with a pom-pom but you would not find me wanting to compete,” Richards said.

She added: “I did not know fitness would be a part of my life coming from the University of the West Indies. I started in hospitality but I always loved helping people and getting to know people and helping them better themselves and succeed and I think initially that is how I ended up in the hospitality industry. But then I realized it was not quite where I wanted to be. I started to work out myself and I figured out this is where I wanted to be.”

The 27-year-old told Barbados TODAY it was an extremely proud moment for her when she was announced as the winner on Saturday night. Richards said she did not expect to do so well and was looking forward to doing more.

She noted that preparing for the show was mostly about time management.

“It really was a lot of time management especially with my son and manoeuvring between training, posing and trying to make sure that I had all of my meals and his meals prepared. Most days my mornings would start at 4 a.m. and I would not be getting back down until 10 p.m. because of how I was training and trying to get everything in place.”

Quizzed about the reason for entering the competition, she explained it was something she always wanted to do but did not get the chance to because at one point when she was getting herself into shape to compete she got pregnant with her son. However, thanks to her coach and mentor Kenneth Griffith of Training Edge Gym, and her family and friends, she was able to enter the competition this year for the first time.

“Kenneth has been a mentor to me for a few years now and working with him has been a big inspiration. He has always been a great motivator and he is the kind of person that believes in you even when you do not want to believe in yourself. So he really was another big push in helping me get where I am along with support from my family and friends who all have been very supportive and helped me to prepare for the show,” Richards said.

The five foot nine inch tall athlete, who trains five days a week, said she would be looking to acquire sponsorship because she definitely wanted to continue her career in fitness and represent Barbados as much as possible overseas. She noted that later this year in Veracruz, Mexico, she would make her dream a reality when she represents Barbados at the CAC Games.

As to how many titles she would like to gain before calling it quits, Richards said she really did not know because that was not where her focus was.

“I promise myself I would compete once and I did and I will definitely do a couple more [bikini competitions] but as to how many more titles [I would like to win] I am not sure because that is not where my goal is really at. I think I would just like to continue to better myself in the sport,” she said.

Outside of competition the affable Richards described herself as a simple individual who enjoyed spending time with her friends and family.
marissalindsay@barbadsotoday.bb

Tickets for admission into the National Senior Games on Whit Monday, June 10, will be available at the National Stadium from 7 a.m. when the gates are opened to signal the start of the 18th edition of the games. Admission is free. Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, will officially declare the […]

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The gyms are closed. The pieces of equipment are stationary. The locker rooms are silent. The saunas are empty and the showers are dry. It has not been an easy time for fitness centers and healthy lifestyle training professionals across the island. But one of these, ABC Fitness Studios, like several others, is finding ways […]

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By Michron Robinson

The EcoActive Youth programme by Ashley Lashley is moving full steam ahead with its fight against climate change.

Among those cheering on the young activist is Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith who said, “The Ashley Lashley Foundation is one of those non-governmental organisations that is doing a lot of work on the ground in this country as it relates to climate change and educating the young population about all of the dangers associated with climate change,” he said.

Minister Griffith said it would be great to see others putting in the work like the Ashley Lashley foundation is other areas.

“I wish more community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations would take up the fight as well and engage not only in climate change, but  there is a whole range of different areas that they can get involved with to make communities stronger.”

Lashley told Barbados TODAY she is encouraged by the progress of the programme and prospects for the new year.

Speaking to the media in the car park of the Wildey Gymnasium on Wednesday morning, she said, “This initiative today was just the pilot programme, next year is when we’re looking at rolling out the full EcoActive Youth initiative across all the primary schools in Barbados. Students across Barbados understand what climate change is, their role in creating a healthy environment and having a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

Lashley, hopes for more support from corporate Barbados and the government in the venture.

Between September and November 30 this year the EcoActive Youth Campaign visited 20 schools over a 12-week period where students were given vital information on climate change.

Wednesday’s event featured fitness guru Spinny and popular entertainer Leadpipe.

Children from several different primary schools and their teachers came out for a morning of hype and aerobic exercises. 

UK Charge d’Affaires, Craig Fulton during his address had only positive words for Lashley. 

“It is only by working together on all levels, local and global, that we will be able to address the climate change challenges that we all face. That is why projects like these are so important. I would like to congratulate the Ashley Lashley Foundation on the successful culmination of their events,” he said. 

Browne called in the little ones present to play their part as “earth defenders”. 

“Your participation in this programme is a positive and welcomed indication of your interest and desire to protect the earth. Each of you must play your part to reverse these trends. You must see yourself as defenders of the earth,” he said. 

The little ones spent the afternoon enjoying the jumping tents, the snow cone stand and pop up booths providing information on climate change. (MR)

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The X-treme Body Mechanix Fitness Centre recently held its Beryl Bynoe Sports and Fun Day at the King George V Memorial Park and it was hailed a major success.
It was one of the many exciting activities held to celebrate its 11th anniversary. With almost 100 participants and spectators, it proved to be a fantastic event with healthy competition.
The last sporting event in 2019 was won by Yellow House but Blue House was this year’s champion with 715 points. In second place was Red House with 610 points, third went to Green House with 580 points and in fourth place was Yellow House with 570 points.
However, hailing from Yellow House were the two most outstanding competitors – Simar Chapman and Dario Bowen.
Steven Mason, owner of the Fitness Centre, conceptualised the event in honour of his mum Beryl Bynoe, who passed away on December 25, 2013.
Mason explained to Barbados TODAY that his mother was a true gem and he wanted to honour her by cherishing her memory.
“My mum loved people regardless of colour, age or social status and often catered to their needs. I believe this is an awesome way to let her legacy live on,” he said.
Mason explained that it was an opportunity for everyone in the gym and the community to come together and celebrate through fun and fitness.
Each member of the gym represented either Blue, Green, Red or Yellow House.
Some of the events included the sack race, rolling the roller, the pony hop, the hot potato race, 50 metres and 75 metres sprints and the tug of war.
(MR)

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Amber Cumberbatch’s goal is to empower young women.
The former athlete turned coach believes her life’s purpose is helping athletes, especially females, to reach their greatest heights on and off the track.
“A big part of what makes me happy in life is training and coaching girls and women into becoming the athletes that they are. I believe that regardless of your age, your experience, your goals, your history, that in every person there is an athlete just waiting and wanting to be released,” Cumberbatch told Barbados TODAY in a recent interview.
“However, we all know that it takes applied effort, strength and determination for this to come alive and grow and my purpose and passion as a coach is to lift women up to that place of understanding and coach them into becoming fit, fast and strong.
“My mission is to help groom girls and women into unleashing their inner athlete and start living a more active and good life through movement and exercise,” she added.
Cumberbatch’s journey as a fitness coach began in 2014.
She said since then she had witnessed many of her clients experience a positive mind shift during their sessions.
“The feeling is so alive and refreshing and I didn’t want to keep it to myself anymore, so that’s when I stepped out of my usual set up of training alone and stepped into the life of guiding and coaching others into their journey in movement and exercise,” she added.
Cumberbatch represented Barbados at regional track and field events which earned her a full athletic scholarship to Missouri State University in the United States.
This fitness expert spoke also about how she initially started coaching and the rush of excitement she gets from working with children.
“I initially started out training adults, but recently I have been working with kids who have an interest in running or just overall fitness and to be honest, working with these kids brings so much joy to my life and I always look forward to our training sessions,” Cumberbatch explained.
“I have been told that I’m a very loving and easy person to be around and because I love people and enjoy taking care of their journey in fitness, along with my fun and variety focused programmes, many of my students remain with me over the years and we’ve built a close family connection at the same time.”
Cumberbatch admitted that seeing the results from her client’s hard work and dedication was especially rewarding.
“I enjoy seeing the results and when I see the transformation happen in my students it re-ignites the fire that I have for coaching. Sometimes, it even brings tears to my eyes in my quiet times of reflection. It really wows me when I see them improve and hit their new targets,” she said.
Cumberbatch revealed that she got involved in track and field from the age of eight and has no plans on stopping any time soon.
She said even during the Covid-19 pandemic was in-person training was prohibited, she found ways to continue her training.
“COVID-19 stole the atmosphere of in-person training and I surmounted this new way of life by being extra creative. I took my classes online and worked in the virtual world until the all clear was given to be outdoors,” she pointed out.
As for her inspiration, she says that she looks up to one “superwoman,” her mother Michelle Cumberbatch, who she described as extremely strong and resilient.
“She always motivates me to grow without any barriers,” she said putting it simply.
(MR)

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