NABBA/WFF Victorian Championships
NABBA celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and the line-up at the recent Victorian Championships was one to remember. Nick Jones was compere for the day and he brought an affable air to proceedings, riling the crowd up when he needed to, and complimenting each class that stepped umandp on stage.
The first cab off the bodybuilding rank was the WFF Teenage Men. With only two competitors, Jarrod Brown took out first place, displaying a very well-developed physique for his age. Second was Lewis Ward, and their posedown was to You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate.
The NABBA Novice Men division was won by James Quinton, a self-trained bodybuilder. He had recovered from a broken back to step on the stage and displayed a ripped physique with great shoulders and back. The vascular Raffi Zarmanian took out second place and Marc DiTonto from Thomastown’s 5 Star Gym placed third.
The next two women’s divisions were judged together. The NABBA Figure O35 was won by Mandi Ritchie, while Kristy Firy, whose posing routine was to My Eyes Adored You, placed second.
The WFF Masters Figure O40 was won by Simone Moore, with taekwondo trainer Emma Gilmour placing second.
The WFF Mr Athletic Class 4 was won by Jimmy Wilson, with his excellent legs, while second was taken out by the well-developed Jim Mathiopoulos.
The winner of the WFF Mr Athletic Class 3, Nick Makaronis, had good separation of muscle groups, while John Gusman took out second. The athletic Anton Dubsky place third. Figure champion Wendy La Roche presented the trophies.
The NABBA Men Class 4 was another impressive division, and veteran bodybuilder Ange Galati took out first — his incredible pedigree was too good to beat. The rest of the line-up were no slouches, though. Andy Scott came second and Nick Jones commented that he had a “fantastic physique”. Paul Jayilian, whose posing routine included some Hulk Hogan moves, placed third.
Sam Khaddour was the only competitor in the NABBA Men Class 3 and was awarded the first place trophy.
The WFF Masters O35 and NABBA O40 Classes were judged together. Matthew Wiederstein took out the WFF Masters O35 with his aesthetic physique, while Arthur Fracalossi and his great abdominals took out first in the NABBA O40s.
WFF Miss Athletic Class 2 was a closely-fought competition, with the top two spots tied. After a count-back, Nicky Jacobson was awarded first to a huge crowd response. Second was won by Adrienne Tibballs, while third was taken by Tammy Costanzo; both ladies are trained by Eyad Molaeb. In the WFF Miss Athletic Class 1 was won by its sole competitor, Serena Harvey.
Just before the afternoon break, NABBA legend Don ‘The Spartan’ Mahoney entered the stage to award the inaugural WFF Legend award to Kristian ‘The Viking’ Portill. Don spoke of Kristian’s overcoming bad genetics to rise to the top of Australian bodybuilding. He had a stellar 2009, winning every competition he entered, which is a feat nobody has accomplished. Kris humbly accepted the award — shaped like a map of Australia — and thanked Don for his help as a trainer and motivator. Kris said that Don used to tell him, “It’s all about the turtle and the hare. Don’t forget: you’re the turtle, Kris.”
After the intermission and a demonstration by some Zumba dancers, it was time for the WFF Mr Athletic Class 2. The vascular Wesley Newell, who had a great most muscular grab pose, won this class. Second was taken by the aesthetic John AlBergo, while third was won by Mark Zepcevski.
By this point in the day, the entire auditorium looked to be packed out, with people standing in the aisles with scant regard for occupational health and safety regulations. The lure of the show on the stage was too great.
The WFF Mr Athletic Class 1 was taken out by Alastair White, who looked to be the favourite of this line-up, his skin veiny and very thin, with pronounced detail. Ryan Underwood and his pec-dancing nabbed him second, while David Filippelli – who entered the stage to a huge crowd response — came third.
In this division’s posedown, to Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, there was a ton of quality muscle on display. The remaining NABBA Miss Figure divisions were judged together (Class 2 and Class 1), with Tanja Duncan taking out first in the Class 2. In the Class 1, Hayley Betram took out the top prize, while Clare Ross’ tight body garnered her second. The third place trophy was won by Kara Eames.
Similarly, the NABBA Men’s Class 1 and 2 were also judged together, with three in each division. How to describe these classes? Well, as compere Nick Jones said as he introduced them, “Bring on the beef!”
The massive Abraham Elzaibak took home the first place trophy in Class 2 and his size drew rapturous applause. Adnan Osmanoski placed second with his more aesthetic but still ripped physique. Third place went to mechanic Steve Bennett, whose posing routine was to Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again.
Class 1 was the division of the already-awarded Kristian Porthill and he predictably took out first place with his amazing physique. Nick Jones commented that in his move from WFF to NABBA, Kristian had brought some size along with his always-great conditioning. Second placer Hayden Thin had a great physique, particularly good back and thighs, and his body reminded of the old-school bodybuilders of Arnold’s era. Donny Henderson Smith, with his big upper body, placed third.
By now, the audience was at a fever pitch. The sound during the compulsory poses for these final classes was deafening. When it came to the posedown, to the theme from Rocky, the muscle on stage threatened to crush the stage.
Throughout the day, the WFF Glamour division had been running, with two competitors and three rounds: bikini, sportswear and evening wear, which included a speech component. In the end, Michelle Hodges took out the first place sash and trophy, while Ildiko Gregory placed second. Nick Jones complimented both competitors on being beautiful women who had not only great figures but quality muscles too.
Now it was time for the Overalls, the best of the best. The winners of the Overall awards received, in addition to their trophies and other prizes, 12-month subscriptions to Iron Man.
After a posedown to Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman, the WFF Women’s Overall trophy went to Nicky Jacobson, who had won the WFF Miss Athletic Class 2. The WFF Men Overall trophy went to Alastair White, winner of the WFF Mr Athletic Class 1, after a posedown to I Want It All by Queen. Nick Jones commented that all competitors in the WFF Class 1 had to be under 80 kg and that Alastair had struggled to get that lean. To look at him, you can understand why: the guy is huge. The NABBA Figure Overall prize went to Hayley Bertram, the NABBA Figure Class 1 winner.
The NABBA Men’s Overall line-up must have been a very difficult one to judge. As Nick Jones said, it was the best Overall Vics line-up he had ever seen. Every single human on stage had an outstanding physique. In a way, the choices ranged from the freaky (Elzaibak), the aesthetic (Porthill) and the overall ripped (Galati). In the end, it was Ange Galati, who also won the NABBA Men’s Class 4. He was perhaps a dark horse, but when his name was called, nobody doubted that he deserved the win. However, Ange himself seemed surprised — he fell to the ground when his name was called as winner.
Graeme Lancefield put on a great show, even finishing earlier than the estimated time. A big thanks must go to Graeme, Nick Jones, the judging panel, all the competitors and especially the audience who came along to support the ladies and gentlemen on stage. IM
Photography by Mariya Mova, www.movafoto.com.au
