Gilbert and Kamal give it there all. SG pic.

I have to start by thanking Paul and Christine Grant (Paul, as some of you will know, was part of Arnold's 'gang' in the 70's) for their very kind invite and even more for looking after myself and John all weekend.

Having, as per Johns report, arrived on the Friday and attending the Nabba Wales comp on the Saturday (does Barry, where it was held, shut on Saturday afternoons?) we were looking forward to the bigger competition on Sunday afternoon. I say bigger because of the prize as opposed to the perceived prestige. It has to be perceived as I am still trying to figure out why it wasn't a bigger success - more on that later.

Having enjoyed a good breakfast at our very close-by hotel (just 200 yards away) John and I strolled over in time for the pre-judging. We had seen and spoken to many of the sponsors and a few of the competitors etc over the weekend. Myself and John were shown to our seats by Christine herself and on day when she must have been very busy - ta very much. Looking round we saw Extreme Nutrition stand with Gilbert Sneddon one of the competitors in the under 90-kilo

class looking after it.

We also ran into our big mates from Science In Sports Roger Noon and the even bigger than before Trevor Crouch (although by his own admission holding a little water - still the biggest arms I have ever seen!!). Also sponsoring the comp was Biohazard, Reflex, Optimum and DM Trade.

Setting up shop a few seats down was another sponsor and photog Giles Thomas who has set up a new website called www.uk-muscle.com who we had seen briefly the night before whilst partaking of some liquid refreshment in the hotel bar - ahem.

Under 70 kilos
Carl Cox (3rd)
Wayne Robinson (2nd)
Jim Butler (1st)

Under 80 kilos
Lee Callahan (I think) - (1st)
Ashley Pitts (3rd)
Dave Thackry (2nd)
Dave is, of course, partner to Angela a sometime writer for us here at Muscle Mob and we had spoken prior to his going on stage.

Lee deserved first as by his own admission David was not quite as 'on' as he wanted to be. Like many competing that day/weekend he had been in several competitions over the preceding weeks (Pendle Valley for example).

Ladies - no weight classes due to the small turn out
Isabel Ward (1st)
Emma James (2nd)
Genna Ford (3rd)

Normally quite good at judging the position I preferred the look of 3rd place winner Genna who had a slim-line physique. Isabel fell somewhere in the middle of athletic and muscular were as Emma had the most fun on stage but was holding quite a bit of water and from my seat (god bless her) seemed to have bigger thighs than I possess.

Under 90 kilos (the biggest class)
Alan Overton
Matthew McDermott
Craig Welby
Paul Megwa - easily the best poser.
Gilbert Sneddon (2nd)
Kamal Elgareni (1st)
Giles Ward
Geoff Nutt (3rd)
Paul Thomas (4th)

Kamal and Gilbert were very close and we had spoken to Gilbert the day before. Up close he had veins like small hoses under the skin and everything said winner. However, rumors had been flying around in the approach to the Open UK as to whether or not the highly rated - by his competition - Kamal would be attending. Kamal had the shape and seemingly the condition coming to life with all the lines one would expect from an Olympia contender. As we shall see Kamal didn't just win the class but drove home Monday in a new car! On any other day the class would have been Gilberts but not today.

90 kilos
Tony Stevenson (2nd)
Ed Creamer (1st)
Barry Chambers (3rd)

As you'll hopefully see and unlike Ed's prediction (possibly tounge-in-cheek) after the pre-judging Ed own this class quite confincely due to a combination of size, almost tip-top condition and supreme stage presence. Tony, as per the outside shots taken by our John was ripped but a little light. He also was told by the MC more than once of several posing faults (feet down etc) and this may have lost him a point or two. Ed also managed to hold as much of his condition from the prejudging to the evening show as he could by not allowing his legs to smooth over as they had the day before.

Tony Stevenson (outdoor shot). John F Pic.
Over 100 kilos

Wayne Clark (4th)
Simon Morgan (1st)
Geoff Hargreaves (2nd)
Kevin Alder (5th)
Marshall Elliot (3rd)

One hiccup occurred during the results for the 100-kilo class. Now bearing in mind the size of these lads - huge is about right - I was surprised that they didn't throw a wobbler. What appeared to happen was that they had a double posedown. All the classes had had one. During previous posedowns the judges scores were adjudicated and tallied and a result was handed to Neil the MC. The heavy's were asked to go again and the audience could see that the scores were being looked at. The results, as per, were handed to Neil and Marshall Elliott was announced in first place. Now no offence, Marshall's a big lad with a good set of arms but no or little separation in his thighs and abdomen. For my sins I heard myself say 'No 'effing way'. The next two places were announced and then Paul Grant muttered something in Neil's ear. Proceedings halted and the numbers were
Above: The grand prize - why didn't you compete?
looked at again. Then the results were announced as per this article. What happened - don't ask me?

The line-up for the overall and for the car
Jim Butler
Lee Callahan
Kamal Elgareni (1st)
Ed Creamer
Simon Morgan

I had made my mind up during the days proceedings that, as I perhaps naughtily joked with Gilbert, Kamal had already organized insurance for the car. He was that good. However, the audience nearly changed my mind. The competition hadn't heard my thoughts and Ed looked as though he just might swing it. With 60% of the crowd screaming 'Creamer, Creamer' constantly and him posing commandingly I was suddenly in doubt. The judges however, with no need to a re-count, had made up their minds. There were no announcements for 2nd, 3rd etc. Nope KAMAL ELGARENI had won himself a brand new car - cheers very much. Wider, perhaps, than his shoulders was the smile on his face after!

Once again a special thanks to the WFBB and Paul & Christine Grant for the Sunday lunch, the buffet, the front row seats and for putting us up in the hotel. Muscle Mob is going places and these two wonderful people are helping it along.

A question asked…
If so many would-be physique stars bemoan how hard and expensive it is to compete why then, when they could have own a car worth anywhere between £5000 and £10000 do they go for the titles than the chance to pay for a whole years competing with a holiday for the long-suffering wife thrown in as well. If you truly want it then sign up for next year!!