2024 IBFA Welsh Championships # 2 – Men’s Bodybuilding, Classic & Physique

BARRY MEMORIAL HALL, SOUTH WALES
10TH AUGUST 2024

Report by  John Lovell

10th August 2024 saw the return of the IBFA Welsh Championships and its 3rd time running at the fantastic Barry Memorial Hall in South Wales by Promoter Matthew Ali.

Men’s Physique
Two fantastic competitors today in the men’s physique class, both athletes being worthy of a top placing at any show, but as we know we can only choose one winner! And on todays occasion, Grant Coles took the win, grant had superior condition and great balance on his huge frame, he did give up a little fulness to Mark in 2nd, who sported a brilliant taper and posed well! A close fought battle!

Men’s Junior Bodybuilding
Anthony Fudge clearly has a lot of potential in this sport and carries and good amount of muscle for someone his age! As he develops his condition over the years he will become more and more competitive as he moves into the open classes!

Men’s Novice
A strong novice class took the stage today for the title of novice Welsh champion. We had 2 contenders for this title today, both sporting very different extreme attributes. Steven had the size but was very soft and nearly lost the title to a shredded Chris Edwards, Chris was crispy from head to toe, and had the development and balance to properly show case it. Chris had the best condition at the show today by a mile, which earned him the best conditioned award. Phil Cox in 3rd place had great balance, and shape, but gave up both a little size and condition to the top 2. A great top 3.

Men’s Masters Over 40s
The first of out masters category took the stage today, Richard ford was the clear winner today, showing off great size and balance with great conditioning to top it off. Stuart in second had the size and just edged out the winner in some areas such as the pecs, and maturity to compete for the top spot but lost out slightly on overall condition, Ian however in 3rd, had the condition but lost out on some size to the top 2! However a great top 3 today.

Men’s Masters Over 50
Chris Nash took the win quite easily here as he was in great shape with a solid package, as well as being the biggest in the class, Leigh in second was very crisp and competitive in his condition, but was just outsized by the winner today! Ian, as mentioned previously, in great condition.

Men’s Masters Over 60
The winner of this class, Phillip Spooner, was very impressive today, and even looked competitive in the overall, to be in your 60s sporting size, conditioning and balance like Phil did today is no easy task, he should be very proud of his showing today, as should 2nd and 3rd place, Robert and Alistair are more than worthy of a win at any other show, but today the standard was high! All athletes, even the ones outside of the top 3 were all in good shape.

Men’s Masters Over 70
Wow! 3 great competitors took the stage for this class, all of them over 70 years old, to be competing at this age is a huge achievement in itself, all 3 competitors should be immensely proud today, the winner was simply world class, Robert should have no problem being competitive if he chooses to take up his world invite today, David and Michael both battling it out was a pleasure to watch and both delivered excellent routines!

Men’s Classic Tall
Probably the most competitive and closest class of the day, the athletes in the class were really put through their paces today and were compared several times over. The top 2 of this class were the most difficult to judge. The eventual winner “Morgan Phillips” just about made it over the line as the winner today, as he displayed a slightly more classic frame and physique which this class demands. Small, tapered waist tied into some impressive and well-conditioned quads with an impressive outer sweep. Morgan gave up some muscle in the rear shots to Chris in 2nd, but made for this in more quad sweep complimenting his shape. Chris went on to win the most conditioned award as previously mentioned, with jaw dropping crisp condition often only seen at international level bodybuilding, if Chris continues to bring that level of condition with more muscle in the future, he could be a top-level competitor. 3rd place was an impressive James Harvey, James Stood a bit taller than the rest of the line up, but still brought a classic look and presentation we look for, in a lineup this competitive, James gave up a little bit of development and overall balance to the top 2 but could easily top a line up like this in years to come!

Men’s Classic Short
Standing alone in the classic short class today was Ian Gauntlet, it’s unfortunate Ian was todays only entry as he presented at a very competitive standard and easily his best physique to date, great condition worthy of a top placing at any class, showcasing some dense muscle and deeply separated quads. It would be great to see Ian actually take up the invite to the British finals and see him battle it out for a top spot!

Men’s Open Class 3
A strong class 3 today, with the top 3 possessing their own strengths making it a tough one to judge! Chris took the win today, as he had the best balance out of the three, he possessed the Size, a great shape and good condition to top it off earning him the top spot. Between Ian and Stuart it was a case of Size vs Condition, Stuart had more muscle, and a better shape due to being more complete from the rear, whereas Ian had the upper hand in condition and some good development in areas! On today’s occasion, Stuart just pulled ahead!

Men’s Open Class 2
Today the massive and heavily muscled Don Valley taking 1st place quite convincingly. The runner up wasn’t too far on his heels though, Steven Cray had a more pleasing shape and to his physique than the winner, sporting a great V taper but gave up some size to the eventual winner. Our novice winner, Steven Jenkins rounded off the top 3 today.

Men’s Open Class 1
Our final class of the day was our Men’s open class 1 class, taking 2nd place was the impressive over 60s competitor Phillip Spooner, who didn’t look out of place in an open class at all due to the fantastic standard that he brought. Taking 1st place was the very well put together James Snaddon, James definitely shines better and has the size to thrive in an open class, he also posed extremely well and had a great routine!

Top 3 Results