Rising Stars & Master Allstars 2024
By John Plummer
Photography by Thomas Mone
To order your stage photos from this event, go to Thomas Mone Photography.
The second BPA show of the year gave first timers and masters competitors the chance to take centre stage — and boy, did they make the most of the opportunity.
The event at Brierley Hill Civic in the West Midlands was played out in front of a fantastic crowd who were also treated to a guest spot by IFBB Elite Pro competitor Victoria Crewe. Victoria was just four weeks out from competing in bodyfitness in Budapest and was in incredible shape, showing what a high class pro physique is all about.
The first half of the show was the Rising Star event, for people who have never competed before. The second half was the Masters Allstars, for competitors aged 35-plus.
Once again, the BPA showed what it was all about with quality staging and trophies, champions jackets, tiaras and flowers for the female winners, and swords for the overall champions.
Remember, the next BPA event is the Northern Ireland Championships in Belfast on July 6, followed by the Impact Classic UK in the London borough of Hounslow on July 27, the English Grand Prix at London's Beck Theatre on September 1, the British Championships at Leicester's Athena Theatre and finally the Dr Vic Supershow amateur and pro contest with a £40,000 prize fund on October 25 and 26 at the Thistle Hotel, Heathrow.
WOMEN'S CLASSES
Alexandra Underdown, 38, who has been in the Royal Navy for 16 years, sailed to victory in the masters bikini class for women aged 35 to 39 before winning the overall title to take home the champion's sword.
Alexandra epitomised all that is good about bikini bodybuilding — tight lines, perfect proportions and outstanding presentation. Sadly for the UK she is about to be transferred from Portsmouth to the United States for three years but she plans to continue her competition adventures abroad.
Her main rival for the overall was Virginija Mazintiene, whose lovely shape overcame Helena Gomm and Sarah-Kay Tushingham-Ford in masters bodyfitness. Helena was the best conditioned athlete and had some breathtaking poses but may have been slightly too hard for the class.
Irina Bozenkova was the pick of two fantastic wellness athletes. Both she and Penny Davies displayed the kind of shape that has made this class so popular.
The overall also featured Ann Fraser whose well balanced body and conditioned lower body took first place in masters bikini over 50, and Elizabeth Thornsby, whose athletic frame won masters bikini over 40.
In the Rising Star contest, Lauryn Jade Mannion, 24, made a strong impression in winning the open bikini class. Trained by British bodybuilding legend Dayo Audy, Lauryn showed the kind of shape that has the potential to go far in the physique world. Elizabeth Thornsby recorded the first of two victories on the day in the masters bikini class for women aged 40 to 49.
MEN'S CLASSES
Essex's Gary Chappell was the star of the show, winning the masters bodybuilding aged 40 to 49 and over-85kg bodybuilding classes before lifting the overall title. Gary, a journalist who runs the bodybuilding website frontdouble.com had a battle royal with Nader Zareinoor in the masters, which was one of the highlights of the day. Nader was thick and hard and had eye catching legs but Gary's physique flowed a little better.
Steve Howarth was the pick of three excellent guys in masters bodybuilding over-50s. Tall, with a wide back, he got the nod over seasoned competitor Chris Unitt and Ryan Evans, who made his debut on the same stage in 2006. Shaun Hannan's greater development helped him overcome Andy Batty's superb conditioning in the over-60s.
Carlo di Carlo's better flowing physique prevailed against Agam Saini in masters men's physique 40 to 49. Agam, who was seriously lean, had the consolation of first place in the same category in the Rising Star show that took place first.
Classic Bodybuilding saw a battle between over 50's competitor Ryan Evans and local lad Gavin Morris! Morris took the win with a posing routine his posing coach Emmy Moreis Obviously choreographed and had him practise with her 😉and she was happy to join him onstage to celebrate his win!
Andrew Taylor's remarkably youthful and shapely physique won masters men's physique over-50s, relegating the excellent Philip Earley to second.
In the Rising Star event, Allan Bell overcame Agan Saini in the open men's physique class and Scott Pugh won the muscular men's physique trophy. Joseph Benton won classic bodybuilding smiling all the way through his routine.
BPA Rising Stars & Masters Allstars
RESULTS
Overall Women Alexandra Underdown
Overall Men Gary Chappell
Rising Star
Masters Men's Physique 40-49
1 Agam Saini
Masters Bikini 35-39
1 Heather Ashley Jones
Classic Bodybuilding
1 Joseph Benton
Masters Bikini 40-49
1 Elizabeth Hornsby
Open Men's Physique
1 Allan Bell
2 Agam Saini
Muscular Men's Physique
1 Scott Pugh
Masters Bodyfitness 35-39
1 Sarah-Kay Tushingham-ford
Open Bikini
1 Lauryn Jade Mannion
Masters Allstars
Masters Men's Physique 40-49
1 Carlo di Carlo
2 Agam Saini
Masters Men's Physique 50+
1 Andrew Taylor
2 Philip Earley
Masters Bikini 35-39
1 Alexandra Underdown
2 Dana Rotaru
3 Charlotte Cliffe
Masters Bikini 40-49
1 Elizabeth Hornsby
Masters Bikini 50+
1 Ann Fraser
2 Heidi Parkinson
Masters Bodybuilding 40-49
1 Gary Chappell
2 Nader Zaveinoor
Masters Classic Bodybuilding
1 Gavin Morris
2 Ryan Evans
Masters Bodybuilding over 85kg
1 Gary Chappell
Masters Bodyfitness 35+
1 Virginija Mazintiene
2 Helena Gomm
3 Sarah-Kay Tushingham-Ford
Wellness 35+
1 Irina Bozenkova
2 Penny Davies
Masters Bodybuilding over 50
1 Steve Howarth
2 Chris Unitt
3 Ryan Evans
Masters Bodybuilding over 60
1 Shaun Hannan
2 Andy Batty