NBPFA.com

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE MAY 2008

Wow! It is a show that will be talked about for months. Yes, all the hype leading up to the 30th Anniversary Atlantic Championships proved to be true. Thanks to the fantastic promotional job of Ti-Jean and wife Heather, this year’s edition of the Atlantic’s will go down in history as one of the most entertaining and smoothest running events since its beginning, back in 1978.

It all began with Dave Man’s spectacular video presentation which took us back over the thirty year history of the Atlantic Championships. The road down memory lane was special to me as I first competed in the inaugural event back in 1978. Following Dave’s presentation we witnessed some pretty impressive physiques in women’s bodybuilding with Saint John’s ripped Lorie Noiles pulling an upset over Nova Scotia’s heavily muscled Nancy Hendrix & Memory Surette. With numbers being down in women’s bodybuilding over the past few years, it was very encouraging that seven competitors showed up for this year’s competition.

Garry Bartlett
Opens the Show

We were anticipating a very exciting and fierce battle in the women’s figure categories and were not disappointed with the great turnout. Former NB fitness champion Nathalie Doucette after shedding 60 pounds made a brilliant comeback by edging out the popular and much improved Janelle Samson to win the figure short division. Saint John’s ultra ripped Heather Johnson astounded everyone with her bone dry condition winning both the Master’s and figure medium height categories. But the real war came in the figure tall category as Nova Scotia’s 2008 figure champion Shannon Lynch appeared to have the division wrapped up until last years NB’s tall class winner Terri Donald stepped on stage. It was a sea saw battle as the judges pondered who they wanted to award the title to! When the smoke finally cleared it was Donald who stood victorious defeating Lynch by a mere point. Donald then went on to take the Overall Atlantic Championship Figure title in an all New Brunswick final.

Dave Manns is presented with
lifetime NBPFA membership.

Highlight of this year’s championships was the special NB Physique & Figure Lifetime membership award that was presented to Dieppe’s Dave Man. Dave has been a huge supporter of NB Bodybuilding & fitness and has been video taping New Brunswick bodybuilding competitions for the past 25 years.

The climax of the 30th Anniversary Atlantic Championships came down to the final pose down between class winners Nova Scotia’s Phil Keith Heavyweight, Prince Edward’s Island’s Corey Arsenault Welterweight, Nova Scotia’s Ron Mayhew Middleweight and Nova Scotia’s Devin LeBlanc Lightweight.

Rumors circulated that former New Brunswick champion and Simply For Life founder Bruce Sweeney would be competing and that he looked out of this world! When Bruce stepped on stage it was game over, as his condition was spectacular. His hamstrings brought gasps from the audience as no one could believe what they were seeing. Bruce took the world shredded to a new level as he was in a league of his own and easily defeated all challengers in the Light Heavyweight category. In spite of the great symmetry and conditioning of PEI’s Corey Arsenault and the nicely proportioned mass of Nova Scotia’s hulking Danny Garon, the day belonged to the “Freaky” Sweeney as he was awarded the overall Atlantic Championship title joining a long list of legendary Atlantic champions.

I can’t thank Ti-Jean and Heather enough for their efforts in taking care of every detail which included thousands of dollars in donated prizes for the athletes. Other notable individuals who played a big part of this year’s well oiled machine were MC Joe Grondin, Chief Judge Duncan Lombard, Statistician Angela Carver, backstage wizards Denis Babeniau, Mike Lynds, and Chuck Wood and go to girl Nevanda Reynolds. For this year’s event we incorporated some changes to make the show run smoother with the goal of creating more excitement. I think these changes were very favorable as feedback from the show was very positive.

NBPFA President Garry Bartlett, Atlantic Promoter Heather LeBlanc, Overall Winner Bruce Sweeny and brother Steeve.

One result of completing the show at a decent hour was the special celebration following the competition at Don Cherry’s Bar and Grill were athletes and supporters were able to get together to grab a bite to eat and socialize. I feel that this was a very positive step in creating comradeship among the many athletes and fans. A social function like this really helps build a solid organization and cements relationships for successful future competitions.

I can’t help but think just how far we have come from that small gathering of local bodybuilders thirty years ago that March weekend in 1978. I am honored to have been at that first show and consider myself very lucky to still be around today.

2008 Overall Atlantic Bodybuilding Champion
Bruce Sweeny

Jean and Heather congratulations! Fantastic job and I look forward to see what you plan on doing for next year’s competition that is scheduled for the weekend of April 16, 2009.

For New Brunswick Bodybuilding & Figure Athletes, the next stop for 2008 is in Fredericton the weekend of November 8th. Already the word is out that many New Brunswick Bodybuilders and Figure athletes are already excited and planning their training to compete at the New Brunswick Championships in the best ever! Have a great summer, enjoy the beach and I hope to see this fall!

GARRY BARTLETT
PRESIDENT NBPFA

2008 Overall Atlantic
Figure
Champion
Teri Donald