EMERALD CUP 2007

Promoters Brad and Elaine Craig welcomed a huge two-day audience to the 2007 NPC Emerald Cup at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington, as nearly 6,500 fans jammed the convention center to watch bodybuilders, fitness and figure competitors from over 20 states and three foreign countries vie for the coveted Emerald Cup titles. Now in its 25th year, the Emerald Cup has grown to become one of the largest NPC bodybuilding contests nationally, and has been the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest contests for many years. This year the title sponsor was upstart company - Emerald City Smoothie - together with a wagonload of additional sponsor presenters who annually support this huge event. On tap as guest posers included Toney Freeman and Phil Heath, along with extraordinary contortionist/gymnast Lilia Stepanova and physique artist extraordinaire Russ Testo (who was making his 11th appearance at a Craig-promoted event). Also performing at Friday's fitness and figure portion of the weekend festivities was Tanji Johnson and Nicole Rollolazo. Perhaps best known as a 'women's show' over the years, the Emerald Cup has produced 18 competitors in it's 25-year history who have moved on to reach the IFBB pro division. In fact, every past winner of the figure division since its inception in 2001 has earned pro status. Female bodybuilders who became pros after competing in the Emerald Cup include Shelley Beattie, Nikki Fuller, Lisa Lorio, and Mah-Ann Mendoza. With a total of 265 competitors (male and female combined), it was men's light-heavyweight Nathan Detracey of Evolution Gym in Bellevue, Washington who took overall honors on the men's side. The bantamweight winner was James Shumpert of Airway Heights, Washington, with Rick Brewer of Gold's Gym in Seattle claiming the lightweight class. Oregon's Curtis Montgomery topped a field of 15

entrants in the middlweight class, as Chris Bender of Belgrade, Montana, notched a victory in the heavyweight division. Todd Jewell of Yakima, Washington, rounded out the open men's classes with a super-heavyweight class win. In the open women's bodybuilding divisions, the Emerald Cup experienced a 'first' as competitors from California made a clean sweep winning all three weight classes. In the Emerald Cup's past history, only Shelly Paolinetti in 1998 had been the only Californian to win the overall Emerald Cup crown, and there had never been a California sweep of all three divisions. Winning the middleweight class and overall crown was Cindy Johnson of Clovis, California. No stranger to high level competitions, Johnson was the 2004 NPC California overall champion, and has competed twice at the NPC USA finishing as high as fourth as a light-heavyweight in 2004. She proudly announced that she is a grandmother (at 46) and that bodybuilding has been pivotal in maintaining her in superb condition. The judges agreed. Kelly Dobbins of Pittsburg, California, topped a field of six lightweights looking ready to challenge in that class at the national level, while Becky West, who nows claims Malibu, California, as home, flexed her way to the heavyweight class win. Formerly from Oregon, West can boast an interesting history at the Emerald Cup having finished seventh as a lightweight in 2002, to go with her victories as a middleweight in 2003, and the heavyweight class in 2007. In the future, she has no plans to drop back down to lightweight in an effort to claim Emerald Cup wins in all three classes! In all sincereity, West is a sound national class competitor as a light-heavyweight, and has finished as high as sixth in that class at the NPC USA in 2004. As the antithesis to the California sweep in the women's bodybuilding divisions, seven open figure categories produced seven winners from seven different states earning victories. The under 5-2 class saw Nevada's Shelly Rego-Vega take top honors in her first contest since last competing in 1997. Her comeback attempt was hugely successful and she looked better than ever after a ten-year hiatus. She appears ready to be a major player at the upcoming NPC Team Universe in the short class. The 5-2 to 5-3 class went to Floridian Gale Elie whose striking stage presence has 'future pro' written all over it. She showed exquisite conditioning and great stage presence. In the 5-3 to 5-4 height group California's Erin Heath was dazzling. So dazzling, in fact, she got the nod for the overall Emerald Cup Figure crown. Heath will head straight for the NPC Junior USA event on April 28th and can count on being very competitive at that event. Idaho's Karin Kimura took the top spot in the 5-4 to 5-5 category after winning the ECup Masters bodybuilding class in 2006. Her win in this class was an easy decision, and her transition from bodybuilding to figure appeared seamless. The 5-5 to 5-6 class went to Oregon's Erica Hamilton in convincing fashion over a field of 13 contestants. Washington's 5-6 to 5-8 class winner, Michelle Mayberry, took home considerable hardware from this year's event as she also claimed the height class and overall fitness division titles to go with her figure victory. The tall class (5-8 and over) went to Arizona's strikingly exotic Christine Aguilar, whose name was very similar to that of singing star Christina Aguilera. While Aguilar may not have the vocal abilities of Aguilera, the singer has nowhere near the physical attributes of this tall class stunner. In the fitness division, ten contestants were split into five short class entrants and five in the tall class. As mentioned above, Michelle Mayberry took the tall class and overall titles, while Idaho's Chandra Young won the short class. As a final touch for the 25th anniversary, the Craigs added silver tiaras to go with the trophies for each of the class winners in the women's divisions....a fitting way to top off a beautifully staged event.