SHOW TIME
REPORT BY RYAN ALEXANDER
2017 PCA XPLOSIVE
APE GRAND PRIX
Held on 22nd October 2017 at the Town Hall, Birmingham.
Birmingham yet again maintained
its place as Britain’s shining
jewel in the crown of amateur
bodybuilders at this, the final 2017
PCA qualifier of a momentous
year.
With more than 300 competing
athletes this was a qualifier of few
if any precedent. The immediate
area around the iconic Birmingham
Town Hall was awash with
competitors & supporters alike-
fake tan, sports clothes & ladies
with garish stage makeup oozed
in & out of the building for the
duration of the day.
To a seasoned supporter of
bodybuilding it was a familiar sight
in the proximity of a bodybuilding
event but in this case the scale
was truly huge. PCA Midlands,
re-invented in the sponsors’ new
designation of The Xplosive Ape
Grand Prix has always proven to
be an extremely popular event in
the short but meteoric existence
of the PCA. Competitors and fans
alike have gravitated towards this
magnificent venue. The huge stage,
cathedral like hall & the usual PCA
fare of great backdrops, lighting,
sound systems & of course a
slickly run show that twists on its
heels & run with precision as all
PCA shows do, showcases exactly
how these events are meant to be.
The spectators were
entertained by easily one of the
highest competitor standards of
2017. Including alongside a great
amateur show a tremendous
Men’s Pro Bodybuilding Class and
an excellent Bikini Pro Class.
There was the usual variety of
physiques & categories on display,
including the extremely popular
Men’s Classic Bodybuilding
Carlie
Davies
providing more emphasis on the
aesthetic aspect of the sport.
Testament to the quality in this
class was that the eventual overall
winner Marcin Pulik shone through
from the moment he entered the
stage. Marcin is definitely a star
in the making, he has magnificent
structure & with a few tweaks
to his very balanced physique
you would imagine he should be
a regular visitor to the winners
podium in future years.
All classes displayed great talent
and very obviously some athletes
brought their A-game on what was
JANUARY 2018 | FLEX
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