MAHO--Anguilla savoured a well-deserved collective triumph on Saturday night at the seventh Inter-Island Bodybuilding Fitness and Physique competition held in Casino Royale, Maho, after winning an unprecedented eight out of fourteen categories.
Organised by Bodybuilding and Fitness Association of St. Martin (BFASM), this year’s event had by far the largest number of athletes competing; from Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada.
Anguilla’s individual wins were in the following categories: Men’s Physique under 176cm (Duquane Brooks), Junior Men’s Physique (Hilroy Alfred), Bikini over 163cm (Roxanne Pinnock), Men’s Physique over 176 cm (McWhirre Lewis), Junior Bikini (Nicole Gumbs) and Bodybuilding 85-100kg (Geshaune Clarke.
To top off a brilliant night for Anguilla, the Men’s Overall Physique trophy and cheque for US $2,000 went to McWhirr Lewis, while the same awards were presented to Bikini Overall winner, Roxanne Pinnock.
The overall Bodybuilding Award went to Grenada’s Damion Daniel in the over 100kg category, receiving a trophy and US $2,000. St. Maarten’s Desmond Patterson finished second and Anguilla’s Verdine Connor was third in this category.
Veteran bodybuilder Lucien Gamiette from BFASM won the Bodybuilding 70-75kg category with Nick Boyd from the Dutch-side bodybuilding association in second place. In other results for BFASM, Joseph Carty finished third in Junior Men’s Physique, Elvina Mathew was third in Bikini over 163cm and Mahelia Ribiege second in Junior Bikini.
Bikini under 163cm was won by Trinidad and Tobago’s Zulema Charles, while Bikini Wellness was won by Guadeloupe’s Veronique Sopta. The Dutch-side’s Anais Pieters-Kwiers finished second in this latter category.
The surprise of the evening was to see Florencia Hunt representing the French side and performing in the Body Fitness category which she won. Formerly a star on the track, the Boston, USA- based athlete is a cancer survivor, who channelled her skills into body fitness.
“It’s a new adventure for me, I needed something to make me move, keep me motivated,” Florencia told The Daily Herald afterwards. “Just because my track career had finished, it didn’t mean I had checked out. So I found something else to put my pride, drive and competitiveness into.”
She said she has practised body fitness for about a year and five months after a friend suggested taking it up as a challenge.
“After a three-month break after chemotherapy, my doctor and I picked drastic stuff to do. I tried this and got more and more into it. This is my fourth show so far and I’ve received my Pro card. I’m competing mostly in the USA, because I have to be near the hospital. It keeps me busy and I want to see where it goes from here.”
As usual, the casino ballroom had a packed audience cheering on the athletes, and a contingent of supporters from Anguilla was particularly vocal. Adding to the atmosphere was emcee and presenter Ricky the Phox on fine form keeping the audience laughing throughout the evening.
The evening’s opening remarks were made by St. Maarten Tourism Bureau Director Roland Brison, and Collectivité representative Jean-Sebastien Hamlet, standing in for First Vice-President Valerie Damaseau.
