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.
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Garry Bartlett
Opens the Show
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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 |
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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
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2008 Overall Atlantic
Figure
Champion
Teri Donald |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO
BRUCE SWEENEY & TERI DONALD
OVERALL WINNERS OF THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE
2008 ATLANTIC CLASSIC
BODYBUILDING & FIGURE CHAMPIONSHIPS
