British Finals 2023

BPA BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

History was made on Sunday when the first ever BPA British Championships were held in Leicester. The BPA exploded on to the scene this year with a mission to give athletes high class platforms to display their physiques and a fantastic show day experience…

By John Plummer

Photography by Thomas Mone

BPA BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS By John Plummer Photography by Thomas Mone History was made on Sunday when the first ever BPA British Championships were held in Leicester. The BPA exploded on to the scene this year with a mission to give athletes high class platforms to display their physiques and a fantastic show day experience. The finals certainly lived up to that promise: the Athena in the heart of Leicester provided an atmospheric venue and everything from the stage to the trophies was done with the athletes in mind. There were jackets for the champions and flowers and tiaras for the female winners — not to mention the first ever BPA pro cards for the five overall winners. Here’s how the day played out.

MALE BODYBUILDING

Daniel Jay Smith has been on a roll this year and it continued here, as he won the under-100kg class and then took the overall title after a posedown and comparisons with the other class winners. Daniel weighed 92kg and said he hoped to get down to 90kg next year — he’d certainly be a formidable prosect at that weight because he carries a lot of shapely, well proportioned muscle. He has the tools. Super-heavyweight winner Dariusz Nawara is a tall guy who is doing a good job of filling out his frame, but it could just do with another year or two of growing. Pranav Poornathresh Shenoy, who defeated Adam Northover in the under-90kg light heavyweight category, may well have been Daniel’s biggest challenger for the overall, as his physique was really aesthetic. Wayne Petley’s condition helped him overcome Charles Holder in the middleweights under-80kg division. Charles has a pleasing shape but Wayne had clearly nailed his diet and was a deserving champion. Really good lightweights are rare beasts but Rob Harris caught the eye in winning the under-70kg category against Joe Pocklington. With dense muscle throughout, particularly in the chest, and tight lines, he was outstanding. Anthony Davies’ thickly muscked upper body helped him overcome Baron Darren Stock and Baz Watret in classic bodybuilding

BIKINI

 

Few classes are more subjective or divisive than bikini — but anyone who thinks Ashleigh Sives Jackson’s look isn’t a healthy and attractive look for the sport needs to give their head a wobble. There may be bigger and harder women but for this least extreme female class, Asheligh’s beautiful proportions and professional presentation is a great advert for getting women into bodybuilding. She took the short height class against junior champion Olivia Pierronnett and masters winner Kerry Meadwell before landing the overall title and BPA pro card. Masters bikini over-35s was a high class showdown between three exceptional competitors, with Joanna Sokolowska finishing first. Stunning proportions and elegant presentation helped her overcome Gemma Masters and the appropriately named Emma Good, who both brought it on the day. Kerry Meadwell showed excellent conditioning to win the over-40s. Junior bikini saw Olivia Pierronnett go head to head with Jaimie May Fowler. This was another tough call, as both young women presented well trained and balanced packages, but Olivia got the call.

MEN’S PHYSIQUE

 

Reza Bahrani was without doubt, one of the stars of the day. He ticked all the boxes for men’s physique and was hard as nails, making him impossible to beat in both the tall class and the overall. Tall class runner-up Mohammed Waqaas presented good proportions and conditioning, but Reza had that bit extra. The short height class was arguably the most competitive of the day, with seven guys all in great shape battling it out. Every entrant had the abs-packed men’s physique look, making it a judges’ nightmare. But winner Richard Oppong had all the qualities — shape, looks and conditioning – on point. Runner-up Matt Bicar further enhanced his reputation with another outstanding performance and third placed Billy Croson’s conditioning was something to behold. In the masters class, Deepak Verma overcame a strong line-up with his wonderful age-defying shape. Syed Rahat Ali Shah and Philip Earley rounded out a stellar top three and Sahib Singh Kainth took the junior category.

WELLNESS & BODYFITNESS 

Wellness was a difficult class to judge because of the contrasting looks brought by Toni Charles and Priscilla Moraes. Priscilla had more of a wellness look but Toni’s superior conditioning prevailed. Toni said afterwards she didn’t compete until she was 38 and then put on three stone over covid. She should be incredibly proud of her accomplishment as she presented one hell of a package, although her future might lie more in bodyfitness.

One woman who poses a major headache for anyone competing in bodyfitness is the multi-titled Ruthie Pierronnett, who seems to get better each year and always turn up in shape. The smiling Scot looked a million dollars to become British bodyfitness champion, and was less shoulder dominant than in the past.

It was no gimme — runner-up Virginija Mazintiene turned up in excellent condition but Ruthie is not an easy woman to get past. Her victory completed one of the stories of the day as both she and daughter Olivia ended up winning British titles. What a great advert for the sport these two are.

MASTERS BODYBUILDING

A fairytale ending saw Steve Johnson, competing for the last time in an outstanding 33-year career, end up a winner. He had to work for it: five guys lined up in the over-50s and there was some serious quality, led by gym owner Luke Nichols, whose trademark legs still standout after all these years.

Gulzar Singh was third in a tough but very sporting class. Steve’s victory meant he qualified for the overall masters title, where he was up against over-40s champion Matt Hughes and over-60s winner Richard Deeping, whose physique looked remarkably youthful. Matt has a powerful and shapely physique, with good legs and pecs and knows his way around the stage. He worked it hard to overcome Dariusz Nawara and was a serious threat to Steve in the overall, but nothing could ruin Steve’s day and his emotion spilt over when his partner Lesley joined him on stage — 13 years to the day since their first date. Talk about memorable moments. Masters bodybuilding is booming — and the standard is insane.

RESULTS:

OVERALL BODYBUILDING – DANIEL JAY SMITH

OVERALL BIKINI – ASHLEIGH SIVES JACKSON

OVERALL MEN’S PHYSIQUE – REZA BAHRANI

OVERALL WELLNESS/BODYFITNESS – TONI CHARLES

OVERALL MASTERS – STEVE JOHNSON

Novice / Intermediate Bodybuilding 1 Sam Ockenden

Masters Bodybuilding Over-40s 1 Matt Hughes 2 Dariusz Nawara

Masters Bodybuilding Over-50s 1 Steve Johnson 2 Luke Nichols 3 Gulzar Singh 4 John Dauven 5 Ryan Evans

Masters Bodybuilding Over-60s 1 Richard Deeping 2 Tom Devers 3 JJ Dunne

Classic Bodybuilding 1 Anthony Davies 2 Baron Darren Stock 3 Baz Watret Bodyfitness Open 1 Ruthie Pierronnet 2 Virginija Mazintiene

Bodybulding Under-70kg 1 Rob Harris 2 Joe Pocklington

Bodybuilding Under-80kg 1 Wayne Petley 2 Charles Holder

Bodybuilding Under-90kg 1 Pranav Poornathresh Shenoy 2 Adam Northover

Bodybuilding Under-100kg 1 Daniel Jay Smith

Bodybuilding Over-100kg 1 Dariusz Nawara Junior

Men’s Physique 1 Sahib Singh Kainth Masters

Men’s Physique Over-40 1 Deepak Verma 2 Syed Rahat Ali Shah 3 Philip Earley 4 Felix Habarugira 5 Kurt Brogan

Masters Wellness Over-35 1 Toni Charles 2 Priscilla Moraes

Masters Classic Bodybuilding Over 40 1 Anthony Davies 2 Baron Darren Stock

Junior Bikini 1 Olivia Pierronnet 2 Jamie May Fowler

Masters Bikini Over 35 1 Joanna Sokolowska 2 Gemma Masters 3 Emma Good

Masters Bikini Over 40 Kerry Meadwell

Masters Bodyfitness 1 Ruthie Pierronnet

Classic Physique 1 Joe Pocklington 2 Charles Holder

Men’s Physique Short 1 Richard Oppong 2 Matt Bicar 3 Billy Croson 4 Deepak Verma 5 Chimere Nkata Emetu 6 Diogo Moraes 7 Baz Rahman

Men’s Physique Tall 1 Reza Bahrani 2 Mohammed Waqaas 3 Felix Habarugira

Bikini Short 1 Ashleigh Sives Jackson 2 Olivia Pierronnet 3 Kerry Meadwell

Bikini Tall 1 Gemma Masters 2 Emma Good

Wellness Open 1 Toni Charles 2 Priscilla Moraes