The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE four-man team didn’t achieve the success that manager Wellington ‘Cat’ Sears had anticipated. But head coach Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean said they performed up to their expectations.

The team returned home from the IFBB Elite Pro in Montreal, Canada, over the weekend where Gemo Smith was second in the men’s masters physique and fourth in the men’s open physique, a category that saw Tarran Knowles placed second in the men’s open, while Paul ‘Mighty Mouse’ Wilson and Giovanni Farrington got second and third respectively in the combined men’s bodybuilding under-80 kilogram class.

“The competition went very well. They had one on Saturday and one on Sunday,” Dean said.

“Some of the Saturday night competitors who participated in their regional championships crossed over and [participated in the international show on Sunday night.

“We had a chance to see some of them so we knew what we were up against and we were ready for the challenge,” said Dean.

“The only damper on the show was the fact that they combined some of the categories in both the physique and bodybuilding, which created somewhat of a disadvantage to some of the athletes, based on their heights and sizes. But overall, the team performed very well and they represented the 242. I was very proud of their performances.

“The judges got a chance to talk to them after the competition and let them know what they had to work on. We found out that the physique class is now treading back towards the slimmer guys again as opposed to the bigger guys. So the trends are something confusing. So all we can do is prepare to do our best.”

Dean thanked the supporters and sponsors who assisted the team in getting off to Canada.

As the most experienced competitor on the team, Wilson said his goal was to win his division and compete for his pro card in the pose down.

“The judges gave up one point that separated me from my fellow competitor, who got his pro card, which told me that if the tables had turned, that would have been me,” Wilson said. “So it was kind of upsetting, but I got the critique from the judges on what I need to work on.

“But all in all, the silver medal was the best performance that I had, considering that I did nationals last weekend.”

Farrington, the only middleweight competitor, said he wasn’t disappointed in his overall finish.

“I am grateful for the competition. It may not have been the colour medal that I wanted, but I am still grateful, I am still humble for being able to compete in my second international show abroad. I got some great critique from the judges and I will go back to the drawing board and work on them.”

Farrington said he enjoyed himself at the show.

“I had fun at the prejudging and I had fun at the final,” he said. “I was a bit nervous at first, but I shook it off and I went out there and gave it my all. That’s why I am so grateful,” he said. “The objective for me right now is to take the critique from the judges and tweak the two minors things I was schooled on and come back even better.”

He thanked Dean for being there as a coach, calling him “the best coach that a guy can have” because he’s always there for him.

Smith thanked all of the persons who helped them in getting to Canada. He noted that the competition was very stiff. “I didn’t do as well as I had hoped coming up here in the men’s physique category,” he said. “I wanted to get my card, but that wasn’t in the cards for this particular trip. Speaking with the judges after the show, I know what I have to go back to the drawing board and work on to come back better for my next competition.”

Hopefully the next time he competes, Smith said he will perform to the level that he can earn his pro card.

Also during the competition, Sears served as one of the judges on the panel. Dean said he helped the team out tremendously as the manager.