English Grand Prix 2023

The ninth edition of the English Grand Prix — and the first run by the new British Physique Alliance — produced another stellar line-up of champions.

By John Plummer

Photography by Thomas Mone

The ninth edition of the English Grand Prix — and the first run by the new British Physique Alliance — produced another stellar line-up of champions.

Promoted once again by Gladiators star and multi-titled figure champion Helen ‘Panther’ O’Reilly, the event solidified its reputation for being one of the most prestigious events of the year.

There were £500 prizes for the overall winners, goody bags for everyone and the coveted champions jackets. But a contest is only as good as its champions and the quality here was high.

Held at the Beck Theatre in London — one of the most famous venues in British bodybuilding — those attending included former overall bodybuilding champions James Watts and Mikhail Boinoit.

The professional looking stage, warm welcome and smooth running are rapidly becoming hallmarks of the new BPA. You can see what the buzz is about at the next event on October 15 when the beautiful Stamford Corn Exchange hosts the Rhino’s Classic.

MALE BODYBUILDING

’Smiler’ David Nkomo was the star of the day, winning the under-100kg division and then the overall, which featured all the class winners of the day.

 

David, cheered on by a wonderfully noisy support crew, overcame impressive novice champion Bradley Perry in the weight class and then used his superb muscle bellies and shape to land the £500 cash prize and sword.

 

Comparing category champions is always difficult and the overall was a close call between David and classic bodybuilding champion Hamed Mehdipour, who presented a very classy and complete look and on another day might have taken it.

 

With his thick pecs, dense muscle and crisp conditioning, Hamed made a strong impression and defeated the effervescent Baron Darren Stock in classic bodybuilding before returning to defeat Pranav Poornathresh Shenoy in the under-90kg bodybuilding.

 

Bolton Fernandes proved bodybuilding is about far more than just size by giving away almost 20kg in the open 80kg class and still winning. Bolton is a boxer who was competing for the first time and was razor sharp – a real knockout performance.

 

Bradley Perry became the novice champion with a physique that looked anything but a novice’s. He was unusually muscular, hard and balanced. The Maidenhead muscle unit has had quite a journey to the stage, which included overcoming addiction, and should be immensely proud of what he achieved.

 

Both masters categories were a credit to the sport by showcasing how bodybuilding is a great way to fight age and look great. In the over-40, runner-up Charles Holder had a fabulous shape and scored highly on aesthetics but winner Matthew Hughes had a lot of muscle and was hard.

 

Over-50s runner-up Ryan Evans was in terrific nick but Gulzar Singh, 51, from Reading, presented a winning blend of muscle and shape. Like many guys, Gulzar had trained since his teens but only recently started competing and said afterwards he hoped he inspired other men thinking their best years had passed that they’re never too old to get on stage.

FEMALE CLASSES

 

Bodyfitness champion Iwona Michalska took the overall title in a super line-up of class winners at the end of the show. Iwona really had the wow factor, with a strikingly well balanced and conditioned physique for a tall woman. A mother-of-two, Iwona only started competing last year and is clearly one to watch.

 

Wellness winner Jodie Dunseath was a strong contender in the overall. Ex-army girl Jodie — who was the first female British soldier in Iraq after the last conflict — combined that wellness lower body with excellent conditioning. This was a class worthy of closing the show, with runner-up Jade Colhoun the pick of three outstanding other athletes.

 

Masters bikini fitness featured seven women, all of whom brought excellent physiques to the stage.

 

Ernestine Asson is a thoroughbred champion who knows all about winning and she turned up in fantastic shape to win the over-35 age group. Again, nobody could have complained if she had won the overall as her proportions are so exquisite and she was tight.

 

Runner-up Emily Joanne had clearly trained and dieted hard — her legs were especially good — while third-placed Jenny Penge showed an attractive, athletic shape that was nicely balanced.

 

Hayley Pearce, a 42-year-old mum-of-three from Stamford who only started competing last year, took the over-40s class and open bikini fitness. Hayley looked a bit dazed by her success afterwards but she had clearly put in the work and was a deserving winner, with a lean and well balanced bikini body.

MEN’S PHYSIQUE

 

There were abs aplenty on stage in the up to 180cm category, which featured no fewer than seven guys. It boiled down to a showdown between the super shapes of Richard Oppong and Reza Bahrani. Reza was the more shredded of the two and took the title. His midsection detail was outstanding.

 

Chinedu Obi’s shape swept him to victory in the over-180cm class. His upper body was incredibly well sculpted and if he can dial in his condition he will be a serious threat on any stage.

 

Kurt Brogan showed how this category is about more than size by overcoming the more muscular Albert Case in a terrific sporting contest. Both guys brought it and had a lot of fun on stage.

RESULTS:

OVERALL MEN’S CHAMPION: David Nkomo

OVERALL WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Iwona Michalska

 

Novice bodybuilding

1 Bradley Perry

 

Masters Bodybuilding over 40

1 Matthew Hughes

2 Charles Holder

 

Masters Bodybuilding over 50

1 Gulzar Singh

2 Ryan Evans

 

Classic Bodybuilding

1 Hamed Mehdipour

2 Baron Darren Stock

 

Bodybuilding under-80kg

1 Bolton Fernandes

2 Ryan Evans

 

Bodybuilding under-90kg

1 Hamed Mehdipour

2 Pranav Poornathresh Shenoy

 

Bodybuilding under-100kg

1 David Nkomo

2 Bradley Perry

 

Masters Men’s Physique

1 Kurt Brogan

2 Albert Case

 

Masters Bikini Fitness over-35

1 Ernestine Asson

2 Emily Joanne

3 Jenny Penge

 

Masters Bikini Fitness over-40

1 Hayley Pearce

2 Ros Tallon

3 Irene Fulton

 

Men’s Physique up to 180cm

1 Reza Bahrani

2 Richard Oppong

3 Tern Chana

4 Jamie Tucker

5 Diogo Moraes

6 Lucky Singh

also competed: Kurt Brogan

 

Men’s Physique over-180cm

1 Chinedu Obi

2 Carl Williams

3 Laisvydas Zibalas

4 Mohammed Waqqas

 

Bodyfitness

1 Iwona Michalska

 

Bikini Fitness

1 Hayley Pearce

2 Emily Joanne

3 Emma Picardi

4 Jenny Penge

 

Wellness

1 Jodie Dunseath

2 Jade Colhoun

3 Priscilla Pazini

4 Lisa Heskett