Masters Winner Heather Johnson

I just want to wish everyone all the best for 2012! With the New Year here, it is a good time to reflect on the past year and what we have accomplished. I can’t express my gratitude to everyone who supported the NBPFA by competing, purchasing a competition ticket, attending our workshop, or simply providing some encouraging words to a competitor. A strong flourishing Association is the result of a lot of people working together as a family. Taking over as President of the NBPFA in 2006, I can’t express my gratitude for your support. When a lot of sports are suffering from these tough economic times, we continue to grow as evidenced by the hugely successful 2011 Atlantic & New Brunswick & PEI Championships.

Classic Physique Posedown Corey Janes & Nick Andrews

Reflecting back to the NB Championships, I think the numbers prove that we are doing something right with another blockbuster 80 plus competitors and a packed Playhouse! As the promoter of the competition and with help from my brilliant staff I think we raised the bar by finishing the evening finals in record time! The biggest complaint following our shows is that they are too long! Usually by the time the final pose down is called people are getting pretty tired and a lot have left. I don’t think this was the case this year as the energy level was at a fever pitch when Justin McKinney was crowned our 37^th New Brunswick Overall Champion. Considering the NB Championships dates back to 1974 it amazes me how successful this competition has become. Ironically, when Ti-Jean LeBlanc, Glen Titus, and myself were on the stage flexing at the Mathieu-Martin High School in Dieppe, most of you reading this were not born yet!

Men's Overall Posedown Class Winners

With the New Year here I would like to reflect back on the NB Championships with a few observations. On a positive note, it was great to see such strong support from Prince Edward Island with a record 19 competitors. Since incorporating the PEI Championships with the New Brunswick Championships and with the support from trainers Samantha Thorpe, Josh Rioux and Corey Arsenault interest in Bodybuilding and figure on the island is growing at a rapid pace.

Jaclyn Wilson receives NBPFA Special Achievement Award

I can’t express just how happy I am at seeing how popular Classic Physique has grown. Beginning in 2007 we only had four competitors and for 2011 there were sixteen. For the first time the division was divided into two divisions with category winners Corey Janes and Nick Andrews flexing their stuff in a very close pose down for the first Overall NB Classic Physique title. Both guys were in incredible shape and either could have won. In the end, Nick managed to gain the extra vote by winning 4-3. With the popularity of Classic Physique the NBPFA will be including the Division at this spring’s Atlantic Classic Championships in Moncton.

As a Follow-up to the success and large turn out at this past springs Atlantic’s Figure Model division I added three categories at the NB Championships where a record of 23 competitors turned up. When the final curtain dropped it was Moncton’s Sultry Lison Roussel crowned the Overall Champion slipping by Charlottetown’s petite Sidney Dingwell and Dieppe’s statuesque Mel Cameron in the final pose off?

Overall Classic Physique Winner Nick Andrews

One of the reasons that the NB Championships are so popular is because of dedicated athletes like Saint John’s veteran Heather Johnson. The gal never ages, and continues to hold her own against girls 20 years younger. Creeping up on the big 50, Heather was the 2006 New Brunswick Overall Bodybuilding Champion and since switching to figure, has won the Master’s title four out of the last five years.

The most improved athlete in the entire competition has to go to Durham’s pristinely conditioned Julie Peterson who totally revamped her physique to battle former category winners and favorites Fredericton’s Kelsey Wilson and Summerside’s Kat Delima in the final NB Figure pose off. I felt that Delima was not quite as conditioned as she was last year and the battle came down to Wilson and Peterson. Wilson sported great esthetics and superb symmetry, but it was Peterson’s superior conditioning that prevailed and won her the overall title.

In the absence of popular Billy Cromwell Saint John’s newcomer George Hubley filled the spot nicely winning the men’s Masters in fantastic shape.

Jonny Doull PEI & Jr Winner

Without question the guy who stepped on the stage at the championships possessing the best genetics and the most potential was PEI’s hulking Johnny Doull. The kid is only 21 and weighing over 220 lbs sported tremendous mass, balance and shape. Big John won the junior category and PEI open Bodybuilding title. This kid is a diamond in the rough and a future National contender.

One of the reasons in promoting the NB Championships is to allow NB & PEI athletes the opportunity to qualify for the CBBF National Championships. It is hoped that when our winners move on that someday they will be rewarded with a National Championship title or even a Pro card like Jaclyn Wilson and Rachel Vienneau- LeBlanc. Jumping from a provincial competition to the National stage is quite a step and often our winners find this step over whelming. I don’t think this will be the case with Overall NB Champion Justin McKinney as he literally dominated the competition in winning the title. I don’t want to take anything away from category winners Fredericton’s Randy Madsen, Hanwell’s Brendan Demers or Moncton’s Danny Drover all were deserving winners and in fantastic shape, but Justin’s size, symmetry and pristine conditioning is national caliber. His quad, glute and hamstring development rates with the best nationally and given a bit more upper torso mass, I think he has got a legitimate shot at the National title next August in Edmonton, Alberta.

Julie Peterson Overall Figure winner

On the negative side I was very disappointed at the poor turnout in the women’s bodybuilding and Men’s Grandmaster divisions with only one competitor in each class. There is nothing more disappointing than having only one competitor show up for a particular division. It is very frustrating for an athlete to train so hard and sacrifice so much, only to find they have no competition. I am torn with the idea of eliminating a division where there is a single competitor, but the last thing I want to do is to cancel a category the last minute when there is someone who has worked so hard to get in shape and wants to compete. It is not their fault, when no one else chooses to enter.

With the New Year here, our thoughts must now turn to the 2012 competitive season beginning with the popular and historic Atlantic Classic Championships promoted by Ti-Jean and Heather LeBlanc on April 14^th a the Mathieu Martin High School in Dieppe. I am extremely pleased that Ti-Jean and Heather are once again on board in offering Atlantic athletes the best in their promotional abilities. Since 2007 they have consistently raised the bar in promoting the Atlantic Classic Championships with more prizes, top quality trophies and a fun oriented atmosphere.

Overall Figure Model Winner Lison Roussel

The concept of the Atlantic’s always has been a competition where the thrill and excitement of competing against competitors from the other Maritime Provinces in a friendly relaxing atmosphere is our prime concern. I think Ti-Jean and Heather have accomplished this with their excellent promotion and after party celebrations.

I am hearing rumors that some former top Atlantic winners may be making a comeback, which will make this year’s show one you won’t want to miss! Of course, the success of the show ultimately lays with you the athletes and fans!

Justin McKinney Overall NB winner

In preparation for this year’s event Heather and I will be hosting our annual spring Figure/Figure Model workshop on March 17^th at the Chateau Hotel in Moncton. There were over 55 participants at last falls seminar and many expressed how much they learned, especially those who went on to compete at the NB Championships.

In closing, I encourage everyone to attend our Atlantic Championships, as it is through your continued support can we continue to grow and prosper! As the contest gets closer, information will be posted on our Atlantic Championship facebook page.

Overall winners Julie Peterson, Justin McKinney, Lison Roussel and NB President Garry Bartlett