Written by David Aboody
29 September 2016

16mdcanada-IFBB-BEN-WEIDER LEGACY CUP-2016 

2016 IFBB Ben Weider Legacy Cup - Contest Report

 

A Tribute To A Pioneer

 Like the IFBB itself, great things start from humble beginnings and this inaugural competition was no exception! Promoters Darcy Rash of Powerhouse Gym and Remi Bruyninga brought a much needed additional Pro Qualifier to the Great White North, and while it had a distinct CBBF Canadian flavor (98% of the athletes), it was open to US (NPC)/Mexican qualified athletes as well. One Pro Card was awarded per major category here, and Masters competitors vied for that in the same comparison round as the Open Class winners. IFBB rules and protocols were followed in the judging process, so a bit of a learning curve for those of us more accustomed to CBBF/NPC procedures. A number of small classes for example, were brought out together at prejudging, perhaps confusing the audience who didn't have a list to follow along with. Additionally, competitors were not repositioned in any manner that would hint at a callout hierarchy, and given the relatively small size of each class (the most was 7), not deemed a necessity for judging purposes.

 

Men's Bodybuilding

Per IFBB rules, the routine presentation round counts for 1/3 of the score, so finals were critical. Some great posing exhibited, such as Mahmood Al Durrah who won the Open Light Heavyweights. Super Heavyweight Riley Janzen took the Overall title and IFBB Pro Card in this category.

01. Maurice Levy - Open Men's Bodybuilding Lightweights -  1st,Grandmasters - 1st.

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02. Rafael De Guzman - Open Men's Bodybuilding Welterweights - 1st, Masters Lightweight - 1st.

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03. Gordon Nelson - Open Men's Bodybuilding Middleweights - 1st.

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04. Pierre-Olivier Mckinnon - Open Men's Bodybuilding Light Heavyweights - 3rd.

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05. John Aiello - Open Men's Bodybuilding Light Heavyweights - 2nd.

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06. Mahmood Al Durrah - Open Men's Bodybuilding Light Heavyweights - 1st.

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07. Mahmood Al Durrah - Open Men's Bodybuilding Light Heavyweights - 1st.

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08. Jordan Janvier - Open Men's Bodybuilding Heavyweights - 3rd.

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09. Jordan Janvier - Open Men's Bodybuilding Heavyweights - 3rd.

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10. Derek Rafla - Open Men's Bodybuilding Heavyweights - 1st.

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11. Riley Janzen - Open Men's Bodybuilding Super Heavyweights - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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12. Riley Janzen - Open Men's Bodybuilding Super Heavyweights - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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13. Riley Janzen with show promoters and IFBB Officials.

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Men's Physique

 Some very small classes, but kudos to Open 'A' Class winner Nathaniel Werner who had previously won his class at Nationals but that elusive Pro Card status now has finally been achieved.

14. Nathaniel Werner - Open Men's Physique 'A' Class - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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15. Sina Hajyouni - Open Men's Physique 'B' Class - 1st.

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16. Mathieu Lair - Open Men's Physique 'C' Class - 1st.

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17. Jeremiah Elie - Open Men's Physique 'D' Class - 1st.

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18. Alfred Voit - Masters Men's Physique - 1st.

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19. Darrel Ropcean - Grandmasters Men's Physique - 1st.

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Women's Physique

 A number of outstanding Nationals competitors took to the stage again. Alberta's Ceejay Byam also competed at the recently held North Americans where more than one observer (including from Muscular Development) was impressed with her look and conditioning, so a bit of a surprise she didn't snag a top 2 position there. But their loss is our gain and Ceejay took this show by storm to get a VERY well deserved Pro Card!

20. Melissa Tofsrud - Open Women's Physique 'A' Class - 2nd.

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21. Michelle Van Teeling - Open Women's Physique 'A' Class - 3rd.

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22. Grete Gautreau - Open Women's Physique 'A' Class - 1st.

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23. Julie Germain - Open Women's Physique 'B' Class - 2nd.

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24. Ceejay Byam - Open Women's Physique 'B' Class - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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25. Nicole Berube - Open Women's Physique 'B' Class - 5th.

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26. Jenn Streeter - Open Women's Physique 'B' Class - 4th.

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27. Dr. Alexandra Heberger - Open Women's Physique - 3rd.

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28. Ceejay Byam - Open Women's Physique 'B' Class - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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29. Dr. Alexandra Heberger - Masters Women's Physique - 1st.

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30. Stephanie Green - Grandmasters Women's Physique - 1st.

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31. Ceejay Byam - Overall Women's Physique Champion (Pro Card).

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32. Ceejay Byam with emcee Shawn Ray. 

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Bodyfitness (Figure)

Again, a number of Nationals competitors brought their 'A' game and more to this competition. Open Class 'A' top two, Kyla Delorey and Chris Cocoromitis both figured in the overall comparisons as Chris won her Masters Class later on. Open 'B' Class was extremely close, in the end Tish Szkabarnicki bested Nationals alumnus Michelle Gagnon (crazy symmetry and proportionality) to take the class. The eventual OVerall Champion emerged out of Open 'C' Class...Michelle Soares was totally dialed in for this show. She would have to be, as Open 'D' Class winner Nicki Dery definitely gave her a run for her money during the Overall comparison round!

33. Open Figure 'A' Class top 3 - Chris Cocoromitis - 2nd, Kyla Delorey - 1st and Dar Ashmeade - 3rd.

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34. Open Figure 'B' Class top 3 - Michelle Gagnon - 2nd, Tish Szkabarnicki - 1st and Kate Joyal - 3rd.

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35. Open Figure 'C' Class top 3 - Jennifer Reece - 2nd, Michelle Soares - 1st and Susan Halcro - 3rd.

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36. Open Figure 'D' Class top 3 - Rae Healey - 2nd, Nicki Dery - 1st and Rachel Killam - 3rd.

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37. Nicki Dery - Open Figure Class 'D' - 1st and Masters 'B' Class - 1st.

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38. Masters Figure 'A' Class top 3 - Kim Gramlich - 2nd, Kate Joyal - 1st and Kyla Delorey - 3rd.

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39. Grandmasters Figure top 3 - Bindi Bains Mackoruk - 2nd, Chris Cocoromitis - 1st and Mia Morrisette - 3rd.

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40. Cris Cocoromitis - Grandmasters Figure - 1st.

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Bikini

While the class sizes were relatively small, the quality was definitely there. There seemed to be a tendancy to not reward "super lean" but it was hard to see a clear and consistent demarcation point. That may have affected Kayle Simpson for example in Open Bikini 'A' Class (5th Place), but winner Marissa Rodriguez had some serious muscle definition too. 'B' Class went to Cristina Rifo, nice combination of size and shape. Open 'C' Class featured some real beauties. 4th placer Jennifer McRann leaned out from her Nationals look for some nice improvements. She's planning to tackle the 'Tested' competition stream (Vancity Showdown) next in her home province of British Columbia. Very tough top 3 here between Francesca Fritz, Sierra Steinback and Savannah Aymont. Savannah took the class AND the overall title to earn her IFBB Pro Card. We did a short shoot the following morning at the host gym 'Powerhouse Gym Edmonton', very neat 'old school' look to the place. Small classes continued the rest of the way, but again quality throughout.

41. Open Bikini 'A' Class - Jayme Galloway - 3rd, Caroline Van Kelly - 2nd and Kayle Simpson - 5th.

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42. Open Bikini 'A' Class - Kayle Simpson - 5th, Caroline Van Kelly - 2nd, Jayme Galloway - 3rd and Mary Carriedo - 4th.

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43. Open Bikini 'A' Class top 3 - Caroline Van Kelly - 2nd, Marissa Rodriguez - 1st and Jayme Galloway - 3rd.

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44. Marissa Rodriguez - Open Bikini 'A' Class - 1st.

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45. Kali Bolstad - Open Bikini 'B' Class - 5th.

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46. Open Bikini 'B' Class top 3 - Harj Hadani - 2nd, Cristina Rifo - 1st and Jamie Baldo - 3rd.

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47. Cristina Rifo - Open Bikini 'B' Class - 1st.

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48. Sierra Steinback - Open Bikini 'C' Class - 3rd.

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49. Open Bikini 'C' Class - Jenn McRann - 4th, Francesca Fritz - 2nd, Sierra Steinback - 3rd and Savannah Aymont - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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50. Open Bikini 'C' Class - Francesca Fritz - 2nd, Savannah Aymont - 1st OVerall and Sierra Steinback - 3rd.

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51. Savannah Aymont - Open Bikini'C' Class - 1st Overall (Pro Card).

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52. Amanda Carrothers - Open Bikini 'D' Class - 3rd.

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53. Open Bikini 'D' Class - Amanda Carrothers - 3rd, Adriana Gentile - 2nd and Sarah Maduck - 1st.

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54. Open Bikini 'D' Class - Amanda Carrothers - 3rd, Adriana Gentile - 2nd and Sarah Maduck - 1st.

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55. Sarah Maduck - Open Bikini 'D' Class - 1st.

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56. Open Bikini 'E' Class - Lauren Simpson - 1st, Torrence Petit - 2nd and Crystal Mohan - 3rd.

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57. Lauren Simpson - Open Bikini 'E' Class - 1st.

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58. Open Bikini 'F' Class - Bree Hunter - 1st, Leanne Kolbe - 3rd and Rachel McConachy - 2nd.

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59. Bree Hunter - Open Bikini 'F' Class - 1st.

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60. Masters Bikini 'A' Class - Jayme Galloway - 2nd, Marissa Rodriguez - 1st and Nadege Corcoran - 3rd.

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61. Chelsea Tapanainen - Masters Bikini 'B' Class - 1st.

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62. Linda Woo - Grandmasters Bikini - 1st.

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In Conclusion

Every great achievement has to start with a spark and this event will hopefully grow to attract more Canadians and perhaps more NPC competitors. On a personal note, an absolute pleasure to cover this show and no regrets deciding to travel to Edmonton specifically for the event. Besides, how can you go wrong with MD's own Shawn Ray as emcee! There's additional coverage/photos from this reporter at http://twixpix.com/contests/BWLC16/BWLC16-Intro.html with links to social media as well. Looking forward to next year!

 

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