Flex F_UK_2018 | Page 127

WABBA MR. AND MISS UNIVERSE 2017 Miss Shape class with 3 Hungarian Athletes in the top 6. The winner Emanuela Manfredini from Italy was an amazing example of the ideal for this class and narrowly edged out Portugal’s Solange Paulini. Our two athletes Nikki Antonaccio and Dannii Cage couldn’t break the top 6 on this occasion but held their own in the strongest class of the day. Luke Bagster was in our first Men’s Bodybuilding Class and completely dominated from start to finish, as soon as he got on stage I quickly grabbed hold of our Union Jack, it was obvious that we would most certainly have a winner here. Next class up was Men’s Classic Bodybuilding -175cm, Ian Nelson was our guy in this class, Ian shocked me with his condition at the Grand Prix and he had brought it with him today. Ian more than held his own in the class and made the top 6 which was his goal, with some added mass Ian will definitely be one to watch next year. Gemma Lancaster was in Miss Fitness, straight off the back of her NABBA Universe, Gemma was here to unify the titles, but today was not going to be the day with Portugal’s Diana Correia narrowly edging Gemma for first place. This was going to be Tony Bailey’s first WABBA international contest, Tony is a 3 time UKBFF British Champion so he used to competing in top level contests and he had definitely brought his A-game here today, Tony performed like a winner and left the judging panel in no doubt that he should be crowned Mr. Universe here today over Italy’s amazing Trofeo 2 Torri winner: Emanuele D’Agostino. We had 2 competitors in Classic Bodybuilding +175, Baz Beattie and Sean Betts, both were in the best condition of their lives but we’re muscled out by much bigger guys in the lineup. Both guys know what they have to do to improve and will be here next year to make the impact that they know they can. Sarah Williams and Sharon Madderson finishing 1st and 2nd in 2016 was always going to be a tough act to follow but we did it! Violet Schwarz and Angela Kirkpatrick were the dominant force in this class and the British flag got a third outing with the two ladies reinforcing the UK’s dominance in this class. The men’s Medium class was a real battle, some great albeit, very different physiques were pitched in together but it was the powerfully built Cristian Pancorbo from Spain who took the top honour in this class. We had 2 competitors in this class both from Wales, Nik Joshi and Jasam Ahmed made up our Welsh contingent, unfortunately neither Nik’s aesthetics or Jasam’s grainy condition could break them into a very MEN’S CLASSIC -175 MISS FITNESS SHORT-170 MEN’S CLASSIC +175 MISS BODY FEBRUARY 2018 | FLEX 125