CBBF Fitness, Figure and Physique Nationals 2016 - Contest Report
CBBF Fitness, Figure & Physique Nationals 2016
Contest Report
Reaching new heights!
Adapting to the ever-changing landscape of competitive bodybuilding, the CBBF is trying to balance its National shows to give its athletes the best chance to succeed. To that end, a new configuration, i.e. Fitness, Figure plus Men's and Women's Physique, has been created and by all indications, resulted in a well-paced "mean and lean" show. Promoted by Leigh and Dean Brandt of Xtreme Promotions (their first National level show), their wealth of experience putting it all together and the always polished presentation featuring the best emcee around Kim Farrison, made for a recipe for success!
Women's Physique
Growing by leaps and bounds across the country, record numbers participated this year, opening with 20 competitors in the Master 'A' Class. Quebec's Claudia Martellino had a great day, taking first place and Overall Masters plus winning her class in the Open category. Graceful posing routines, the hallmark of this division was evident. Jennifer Streeter took Class 'B'. Three great classes in the Open Division, starting with 'A'...the top five here was just a hint of what was to come! Very similar looks, all in peak form, with Claudia winning as noted above. 'B' Class showed a vastly improved Ceejay Byam of Alberta taking the title, certainly one of those in overall contention. Although she did not receive her IFBB Pro Card here, only a matter of time. Moving on to Class 'C', repeating her 2015 win (but this time for keeps) was BC's Emilija Martic...no weak points, a great combination of muscle, gracefulness and presentation, Canada's latest IFBB Pro will make us all proud. It's been a meticulous process getting to this point, incremental improvements finally rewarded!
01. Women's Physique - Master A - Georgina Olivia D'Abreo - 2nd, Claudia Martellino - 1st (Overall) and Mayann Adriano - 3rd.
02. Women's Physique - Master A - Melissa Nero - 5th.
03. Women's Physique - Master B - Trina Burns - 2nd, Jenn Streeter - 1st and Tara Jarvis - 3rd.
04. Women's Physique - Master B - Dr. Alexandra Heberger - 5th.
05. Women's Physique - Master B - Victoria Myslik - 4th.
06. Women's Physique - Master B - Jenn Streeter - 1st.
07. Open Women's Physique A - Claudia Martellino - 1st, Jenna Reid - 2nd and Eva Dunbar - 3rd.
08. Open Women's Physique A - Kristia Petrossie - 4th.
09. Open Women's Physique A - Claudia Martellino - 1st.
10. Open Women's Physique B - Andrea Clinton - 2nd, Ceejay Byam - 1st and Kimberley Wannamaker - 3rd.
11. Open Women's Physique B - Ceejay Byam - 1st.
12. Open Women's Physique B - Alethia Legall-Gabriel - 5th and Best Poser Award.
13. Open Women's Physique B - Ceejay Byam - 1st.
14. Open Women's Physique C - Lucie Balcarkova - 2nd, Emilija Martic - 1st (Overall) and Jenn Streeter - 3rd.
15. Open Women's Physique C - Lucie Balcarkova - 2nd.
16. Open Women's Physique C - Emilija Martic - 1st (Overall).
17. Open Women's Physique C - Emilija martic - 1st (Overall).
Fitness
Ontario's Margherita di Bari had a standout routine in 2015, so not surprising she won Overall and 'Best Routine' this time, very conditioned physique as well. Speaking of which, second place in 'A' Class Karen Moore excelled in the muscular department, great strength moves! One of the smoothest flowing routines (probably with a dance background) was Alberta's Justine Martin, very eye catching sporting flaming red hair, placing 5th out of an 'A' Class field of 8. Only 5 competitors in 'B' Class, the top 4 were all from Alberta.
18. Fitness A - Margherita Di Bari - 1st (Overall).
19. Fitness A - Angela Kang - 4th.
20. Fitness A - Malvina Mana - 3rd.
21. Fitness A - Justine Martin - 5th.
22. Fitness A - Karen Moore - 2nd.
23. Fitness A - Malvina Mana - 3rd, Margherita Di Bari - 1st (Overall), Karen Moore - 2nd and Justine Martin - 5th.
24. Fitness A - Margherita Di Bari - 1st (Overall).
25. Fitness B - Jocelyn Hebert - 2nd.
26. Fitness B - Terra Plum - 1st.
27. Fitness B - Terra Plum - 1st.
Men's Physique
Perhaps getting a bit lost in the shuffle amid all the Women's categories, Men's Physique saw one Masters and two Open Class competitors receive Pro Cards. Nova Scotia's Julian Colley seemed to be a very popular choice to take Open Overall.
28. Men's Physique - Master A - Kirk Swaby - 1st.
29. Men's Physique - Master B - Jason Baker - 1st (Overall Masters).
30. Men's Physique - Master C - Michael Kaye - 1st.
31. Open Men's Physique A - Nathaniel Werner - 1st.
32. Open Men's Physique B - Christian Kanku - 1st.
33. Open Men's Physique C - Julian Colley - 1st (Overall).
34. Open Men's Physique D - Kimani Victor - 1st (2nd Pro Card)
Figure
Last but definitely not least was the finale of this show, 6 combined Master classes and 6 Open ones. To say this category has some of the most well prepped and dialed in competitors would be an understatement...the best ever Canadian Nationals Figure lineup in terms of quality depth within each class. Starting with the 44+ age group, Bindi Bains Mackoruk has placed well in open classes at Nationals in recent years, so not surprising she won the 'A' Class in this age group, no slowing down for her! Fellow British Columbia athlete, Terry Aleksic took 'B' Class.
The Masters Figure 35-44 Class was a good indication of what to expect in Open. Janelle Samson won both her Master and Open 'A' Class, receiving the 'additional' Pro Card after the Masters overall comparison round, Tina Power of 'D' Class won the Overall title. Between those two classes were Kate Joyal and Kristen Mulligan 'B' and 'C' respectively, continuing their winning ways from BC Provincials. No small task for either, since some veteran competitors in great shape were entered, such as Emmanuela Pintus in 'B' and Sharona Witwicki, Jennifer Reece and Claire Hayes in 'C'. Speaking of 'D' Class, very close between the top 4, tweaks between Masters and Open Division prejudging one way or the other for Tina Power, Maria Sharp and Nicki Dery seemed to have switched some of the placings later on, it is possible. All made for some high drama by show's end. On a side note, there was a Pay Per View feed of the entire event, I believe they got their money's worth!
On to the open classes, 6 in all. As mentioned above, Janelle Samson took 'A' Class, some notables from BC in the top 5 as well. Dana Sands continues to improve, and in recalling this photographer's photoshoots from a few years ago, definitely the 'before' pictures but always a pleasure to work with, 4th Place this time. A strong Top 5 in 'B' Class, Renata McEwen and Jungmee Choi also having done well in Masters. This brings us to 'C' Class, where Overall Champion Tessa-Rae Nedelec of Alberta would emerge from. Super tough class, including 'Ripped Femme Award' winner Michelle Gagnon and the very improved Jenna Wilcox for starters!
Following them were Victoria D'Ariano and in her first Nationals, BC's Heather Venhuizen...nice proportionality and muscle separation, a bright future ahead in this sport. In 'D' Class, photogenic Ashley Cutforth from Alberta made the most of a perhaps dissapointing placing at their Provincials, but qualified for Nationals and won her class! Fellow Albertan Susan Halcro was third and between them was the nicely shaped Michelle Soares from Ontario. 'E' Class saw a a bit of placing shuffle from the earlier held Masters, enough so that long time competitor Maria Sharp would end up in the Overalls discussion. She was awarded the second Pro Card and new challenges as an IFBB Pro going forward! Rounding up the whole show was Figure 'F' Class, a partial replay of BC Provincials as Martina Yabekova beat out Bree Balaski again.
35. Figure - Master 45+ A - Bindi Bains Mackoruk - 1st.
36. Figure - Master 45+ B - Terry Aleksic - 1st.
37. Figure - Master 35-44 A - Erica Rantucci - 5th.
38. Figure - Master 35-44 A - Janelle Samson - 1st (2nd Masters Pro Card) and Open Figure A - 1st.
39. Figure - Master 35-44 B - Emmanuela Pintus - 4th.
40. Figure - Master 35-44 B - Macha Douard - 3rd, Kate Joyal - 1st, Renata McEwen - 2nd and Emmanuela Pintus - 4th.
41. Figure - Master 35-44 B - Kate Joyal - 1st.
42. Figure - Master 35-44 C - Jasmine Foltyn - 10th, Sheryl Fink - 4th and Claire Hayes - 5th.
43. Figure - Master 35-44 C - Sheryl Fink - 4th, Kristen Mulligan - 1st and Sharona Witwicki - 2nd.
44. Figure - Master 35-44 C - Kristen Mulligan - 1st, Jennifer Reece - 3rd and Claire Hayes - 5th.
45. Figure - Master 35-44 C - Jennifer Reece - 3rd.
46. Figure - Master 35-44 C - Kristen Mulligan - 1st.
47. Figure - Master 35-44 D - Martina Yabekova - 3rd, Maria Sharp - 2nd and Tina Power - 1st.
48. Figure - Master 35-44 D - Tina Power - 1st (Overall Masters).
49. Open Figure A - Fatima Martins - 2nd, Kara Glen - 3rd and Jenna Laurendeau - 6th.
50. Open Figure A - Marianne Ly - 5th.
51. Open Figure A - Dana Sands - 4th.
52. Open Figure B - Jessica Friesen - 5th.
53. Open Figure B - Tish Szkabarnicki - 2nd, Renata McEwen - 1st and Robyn Gill - 4th.
54. Open Figure B - Jungmee Choi - 3rd.
55. Open Figure B - Renata McEwen - 1st.
56. Open Figure C - Michelle Gagnon - 2nd.
57. Open Figure C - Heather Venhuizen - 5th.
58. Open Figure C - Victoria D'Ariano - 4th.
59. Open Figure C - Michelle Gagnon - 2nd, Tessa-Rae Nedelec - 1st and Jenna Wilcox - 3rd.
60. Open Figure C - Tessa-Rae Nedelec - 1st (Overall).
61. Open Figure D - Susan Halcro - 3rd.
62. Open Figure D - Michelle Soares - 2nd.
63. Open Figure D - Ashley Cutforth - 1st.
64. Open Figure E - Nicki Dery - 3rd, Maria Sharp - 1st and Athena Rovere - 2nd.
65. Open Figure E - Jillian Rusk - 5th.
66. Open Figure E - Nicki Dery - 3rd.
67. Open Figure E - Maria Sharp - 1st (2nd Pro Card).
68. Open Figure F - Erika Roberts - 5th, Bree Balaski - 2nd, Martina Yabekova - 1st and Erin Stuart - 3rd.
69. Open Figure F - Janene Kemle - 4th.
70. Open Figure F - Martina Yabekova - 1st.
71. Overall Open Figure Champion Tessa-Rae Nedelec.
In conclusion
That's a wrap for the two major Canadian Nationals for 2016, but would not be surprised if some of the top placers earn Pro Cards either at the North Americans or the inaugural Ben Weider Legacy Cup in very short order. A huge thanks to the CBBF and the British Columbia Amateur Bodybuilding Association for hosting this event. The next show from Xtreme Promotions will be the 2017 Leigh Brandt Muscle Classic next March. Additional images from this photographer are available at http://twixpix.com/Contest-Roundup.html Scroll down to the applicable show. Official stage photography at this event was from Ray of Light Photography, who have exclusive rights to sell photos to the athletes. They can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.