PHILIPSBURG--The three St. Maarten Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (SMBBFA) athletes, who participated in the Ben Weider Classic in Aruba over the weekend, said they had no regrets with their results at an event regarded as one of the biggest and most competitive international shows.
But this year, according to SMBBFA, the large turnout expected did not materialise, surprising the President of the Aruba Federation, when less than a 100 athletes participated. The cause was most likely attributed to many athletes not being able to obtain a visa, SMBBFA suggested.
Pre-judging was supposed to be held on Saturday followed by the finals on Sunday, but only one show was held on Saturday commencing at 10:00am and finishing at 4:00pm.
In the Bodybuilding Heavyweight category Desmond Patterson placed third, and Ashlon Cicilia placed fifth in the Men’s Physique short class.
Nicolas Boyd placed sixth in the Bodybuilder Middleweight class, but he was placed in a higher weight category due to the fact that his class had only three competitors, as well as the class above him. Both classes joined up to make one class.
“So although Nicolas’s physique was on point, in comparison to the guys in the higher category, they had more mass and were fuller,” observed SMBBFA President Martina Rodney-Jones.
After speaking to the athletes, she stated they were in high spirits and did not regret making the journey. Another achievement for the day was for Martin Wilson who came along as a delegate for the association, and who acquired his International Judging Card. He now joins three other St. Maarten judges who are in possession of this card.
“To give some clarity, an International Judge is able to judge all International Federation of Body builders (IFBB) sanctioned competitions throughout the world, versus a Continental judge who can only judge local and regional shows,” Rodney-Jones explained. “I am pleased with the accomplishments of the athletes, and we are now focusing on our National Championship to be held on Saturday, September 9, from which we will be selecting the National Team to represent St. Maarten at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship in Mexico, to be held in the latter end of September.”
