Nabba Nationals

[samoan_muscle]

Anyone going to the night show tonite ?

Or any1 been to the pre judging?

[Pittbull]

I was going but had a few urgent things to get done this weekend. I'd love to know how everyone is getting on.

[2guns]

too far away.

hopefully they abit closer to auckland next year.

wish i could have gone though, would have been a mean comp

[waldo]

From the texts I got it was down to Warren Ah Fook and Phily Nuku. They gave the Open men's Overall to Phily and the International Mens and Mr NZ title to Warren.

[Pseudonym]

If anyone did go and has photos, we'd love to see them.

[MUSCLEROIDS]

Just saw the results of the NABBA Nats what the f##k where the judges looking at or where they getting over a hangover. From what i have heard it was shit. So now lets see what we get from the NZFBB

[deegee]

Just saw the results of the NABBA Nats what the f##k where the judges looking at or where they getting over a hangover. From what i have heard it was shit. So now lets see what we get from the NZFBB

Havent seen any pics yet, can you explain this a bit more ? was it one or more places you diagree with.

[2guns]

did u get along to the show muscleroids?

i saw the results on the nabba website, but cant really make comments until the photos are up. but even photos sometimes dont do people justice.

[MasterTel]

That's a pretty strong statement, Muscleroids - especially when you obviously weren't there yourself. I also would love to know more specificially what you are referring to.

I was there - I competed yesterday and observed most competitors on stage. From what I saw the judges did an excellent job and judged not on reputation or past performances, but on what they saw on the day. Hey - I even had some people call out that I was robbed when I was called 3rd in my class, but I was perfectly happy with my result in a class of 10 competitors and had no gripes at all with the placings. IMO, some of the competitors, especially in the Open classes, were "off" yesterday compared to previous performances, and that may look surprising when you look at results on a website, but more realistic if you actually observed the contest on the day.

Was there a particular result that shocked you, Muscleroids? If so, perhaps those of us who were there can offer some opinions.

[02flex]

very well said Mastertel, and great to see you have a great attitude for the sport, no matter where you place. great job on coming 3rd out of ten guys, far out.

also, would like to say big congrates to Warren MR NZ. I new he was the man to beat.

Also, great mens physique line ups.

Great to see the big boys are back! yeah..

[MasterTel]

Thanks very much, 02flex! Yes, Warren looked amazing and was undoubtedly one of the stars of the event. I was also thrilled for a mate of mine (Phily Nuku) who won the Open Physique title in a very impressive line up.

I was also pleased to see the winner of my class - Keri Onyewu - go on to win the Overall Mr NZ Athletic title. Keri is a top bloke and competitor and was also celebrating his 42nd birthday on Saturday.

As a 40 plus competitor myself, it's always nice to see the "mature" competitors upstaging the younger ones now and again! It's inspiring for me, as I'm sure it would be for much younger competitors to see that you can get better at an age when you would be considered well "past it" in most other sports.

Can you imagine the look on the competitors faces if 42 year old and 8-time Mr O Ronnie Coleman fronted up to compete in a Master's Over 40 comp!?

[FemMuscles]

Hey MasterTel

Getting 3rd out of ten is awesome work, congrats. If I am guessing right you also had a good routine and great music mix. I watched the show and thought your mate Phil looked awesome, by looks of it there were only couple of things that warren had him beat on - so a real nice and close competition and great to see at that level. Open short and tall mens class is the best i've seen in years, great to watch. I also was impressed with the master athletic line-up, WOW great line of guys so as I said to get 3rd out of that line up is an achievement. When it came down to the Figure class there were many disappointed and confused but standing back and watching I can see what the judges were maybe looking for and that was the package and a figure criteria. Some of the figure girls are getting too big and my guess is they were down marked for that! There were two figure girls who really stood out on the day for their gains, one in Novice tall figure who had an awesome amount of muscle but even I thought more physique than figure, also the International lady was well muscled but quite thick in the legs and waist for figure. What I think was disappointing was seeing athletes look great at regional shows then look worse at the Nationals, going backwards instead of forward. There were many experienced athletes who didnt look there best and really should know better. I think the judging was fair and consistant, maybe more communication betweenf federation and athletes is needed so everyone is clear on what to bring on stage?! :roll:

[Pseudonym]

Thanks FM. It's good to hear the view from the audience.

[2guns]

good post fm.

well said

[MasterTel]

Thanks very much, FemMuscles. Yes, I had fun with my routine - I like to do something a bit different and hopefully it entertains the audience as well. I also try and avoid using any recent popular songs in my mix ... do you notice how often at a comp that you get a song repeated in maybe 5 or 6 routines!

I agree with your astute observations 100% - I also noticed a few competitors who for whatever reason appeared to go backwards from their qualifying show to Nationals. Yes indeed - more competitors should seek advice from judges to ensure they focus on what they need to do (and what class).. after all, it's the judges who will ultimately decide how well they do at a comp!

[2guns]

I also noticed a few competitors who for whatever reason appeared to go backwards from their qualifying show to Nationals.

would u say this is from them trying too hard? or trying different things to try and beat the person they wouldnt normally beat?

[2guns]

ok so i just spkoe to a mate who competed at the nationals. he said back stage alot of people were pissed off with the judging. they were angry people crying.. EVEN PUNCHING WALLS AND KICKING SHIT! :pfft:

mastertell did u see any of this.

apparently not a very nice atmosphere...

[I_lift]

I thought that the show was great. A little confusion in regards to some of the placings from the audience (possibly due to lack of knowledge). The Regent was a tremendous venue. Its a shame that next years Nationals are being held in Christchurch (So I hear), possibly to far to travel for majority of the big lifters from Auckland. The show was lengthy, but very well run. The judges are very experienced, not everyone is going to be happy with placings. Overall very well done

[2guns]

CHRISTCHURCH!!! DAMN

[FemMuscles]

Hey 2Guns

I mentioned disappointment in experiencd athletes coming in worse condition at nationals than they were at Regional and you asked What I meant or why they do so?! Only those athletes can tell you whats up, I can only guess that if they qualified early in the year it was too long to stay focused and they went off track OR overdoing illegal supplements that were just damaging their bodies and looking worse for it on stage!

When it came to the Figure girls that were downmarked for size at nationals I asked th head judge their thoughts on this and their direction, so feedback i got was that if the figure girls are willing to take illegal substances to get bigger then they should just be doing Physique as they are looking to vascular and hard, especially in the faces and torso structure, which takes away what the figure is!

I aslo heard there were very angry people backstage but I have been to a few national shows where you always get a couple doing that and usually Irrate boyfriends. Most athletes I talked to seemed pretty happy with how things went. An angry two backsatge doesnt make it a bad or poorly judged show I reackon!

I think its always more exciting traelling to a show and if you REALLY want that NZ title you will make the effort to go down south, airfare might be same as flying to palmy!! Save ahead you wont have any worry or stress. No on esaid body building was cheap!

[2guns]

thanks for that reply FemMuscles.

yeah i dont mind that its in chch. im fully on for next year so id go anywhere.

on one hand its abit of a hassle but on the other its good to take intop consideration the south island competitors also..

[Ann]

Hey everyone. In regards to your answer FemMuscles, I do believe from a judges point of view that the answer they gave you was a completely incorrect one. If they chose to go with a smaller less vascular girl for the overall figure, why then was Leanne Gridrod placed first at the Pro-Am in Palmerston North - then not even 2 months later they decide to place Jackie Poole who came third in the Pro-Am - 1st for the Nationals? You cannot tell me over less than a 2 month period that they decided this? Even Leanne herself commented that she was growled at by Peter Hardwick for coming into the Pro-Am too big. Ever since, Joanne Klein, Lisa Masson, Marlene Henderson and Rowena McQueen competed - our figure girls have always been big - this is nothing new. The judges have now put into place a standard for figure, personally - they have gone backwards in doing this. They tell the girls that they are getting too big and on the same token these same judges have chosen the two girls who did not win the overall (but deserved to) to represent NZ at the Universe. Ummm can you tell me what's going on here, because I certainly don't. And if they have taken illegal substances (as you say the feedback that you got from the head judge was just that) to get their size and vascularity, have you actually gone up to them and asked them that question? If they have then they have, but ask the girls first before assume that that is all they have done. Believe you me, I'd rather look at a vascular in shape figure girl - that has paid her dues than look at some of the other states that were on stage that night - and should not have been there. But hey, that's just me. And before you ask me - yes I am an ex-judge, and no I did not agree with alot of the calls that were made that night - but hey we all have our opinions.

[2guns]

rather look at a vascular in shape figure girl - that has paid her dues

paid her dues? by this you mean use the gear?

[FemMuscles]

Hello Ann

as you mentioned we can have our say and you do have alot of that! My feed back on the figure class was based on own confusion on which way the figure class was going by asking head of judging and hence was answer I got, so dont shoot the messanger. Maybe Leanne didnt compete at nationals because of judging criteria adn weight being stuck to? I think Jackie Poole has a very nice overall shape and was lean from head to toe and has similar body to Susan Fleming who has been one of NZ's best Figure role models. As in other classes I would disagree on with you eg.

Athletic International:

Gary had best overall hardness and pulled off on symmetry

Aron is an awesome athletic and i love his shape but has a fault in his right leg that hides his definiton in this leg - have watched him compete for years.

Delaine looked like he was spaced out, smooth in abdominal area and does not hold his poses, he also has beautiful shape but if he took it serious on stage he would win quite easy.

Masters men, I am amways impressed that our older guys getup there and can look like those guys did, we should be proud of them.

Figure ladies:

Jackie poole has best overall shape, total leaness, had good muscle balance - not as small as you would think, needs to pratice her posing a bit more to show it all off.

Jackie Jarret has great muscle and some serious changes this year, lean all over but bad shape, she is thick waisted and stocky upper top of legs.

Lisa Bellingham had smoothed out since the waikato show I watched, so was nice up top but smooth and no legs what soo ever.

International figure Lisa, wow she impressed me the most with her changes but when i compared my own photos with other girls, she was great up top but too top heavy with huge delts that over powered the rest, legs were a bit too solid and smooth, also torso was a bit thick.

i ty and make notes on shows I watch on how athletes change or if they improve so I can give feedback to my own clients that I train for shows. It is confusing with the figure but if you go to links on NABBA to univers pics etc and find pic of the lady I think from spain who has won the worlds or universe lately is not as big as you would think and is more like Jackie Poole's look and shape, so they are trying to get away from the big in this class Internationally as well.

[Ann]

Hey everyone. 2Guns - I don't mean gear!! But you can take that as you wish. FemMuscles, I agree with you in certain aspects of what you have said, and yes you are right when you say that the women from Spain maybe smaller to some of our girls.

In regards to Jackie Poole and her similarity to Susan Fleming - Yes indeed she has a similar shape to Susan of today. However, I remember seeing Susan at the 1998 Nabba Auckland Show, and she was extremely vascular and muscular then. All the girls that competed weren't small. I do believe Susan came 2nd to Lisa Masson and Joanne Klein came 3rd. Marlene Henderson was also in this bunch, but was unplaced. You are also right in saying that the judges need to communicate with the athletes, but this very really happens, and they change their minds like no-ones business. What would you like to see happen with this sport? Honestly. A change in guard perhaps? A set criteria for ALL competitors across the board - meaning if they don't measure up to a certain standard then they would be asked to leave and come back. This sort of thing has happened. Not within this federation but the IFBB when Len Coker was the then President - (a very long time ago). Have you got any answers - as this won't change unless competitors - particularly those who have been in this sport for years demand it. I do love this sport regardless of all the politics in it, but there needs to be changes and very soon - otherwise you will continue to see sub-par athletes on stage and those who have trained and dieted their ring-out frustrated because of this. I'd like to know your thoughts.

Bye bye