The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Bodybuilding Federation President Joel Stubbs said he was delighted to see the return of the Northern Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships to Grand Bahama.

The event was held over the weekend at the Grand Lucayan Hotel where Orick Nesbitt emerged as the overall male champion and Sanadia Smith took the spotlight on the female side.

Nesbitt, the super heavyweight champion, won the overall title over middleweight champion Andrew Sweeting. They also finished in that same order in the men’s classic physique category. Smith captured both the women’s figure and Fit-Model titles.

“It was a new beginning for the athletes from Grand Bahama and persons who wanted to improve on their fitness dream, goals and talents,” said Stubbs, a former international competitor representing the Bahamas.

“We were able to bring that back to Grand Bahama and we’re looking forward to next year being even more extravagant with fierce competition.”

Stubbs said he was also encouraged by many of the bodybuilders in Grand Bahama, who didn’t participate in the show over the weekend, who have expressed their interest in making their return next year as the country celebrates its 50th Independence. “In the past, the Northern Bahamas Championships has always been a fierce competition between the New Providence and Grand Bahama bodybuilders,” Stubbs said. “So, we’re hoping to get it back there for the audience in Grand Bahama to see.”

During the show, Stubbs said the federation was able to present awards to the following pioneers of the sport from Grand Bahama: Philip Kemp, Samuel ‘Zulu’ Williams, Wendy Willis, Baldwin Darling, Dwight Palacious, Jenny and Ray Whylly, Charmaine McNabb, Jan Johnson, Petra Brice and Henry Cooper.

Stubbs said the federation is now preparing to stage its National Championships on Saturday, July 16 at the Atlantis Theatre on Paradise Island, starting at 7pm. Following the championships, the federation will select the national team to represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships, scheduled for July 27 to August 1 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

• Here’s a look at the winners in the various categories of the Northern Bahamas Championships:

Men’s Bodybuilding

Andrew Sweeting -

Middleweight - 1st Place

Orick Nesbitt - Super

Heavyweight - 1st Place

Men’s Bodybuilding

Overall - Orick Nesbitt

Women’s Figure -

Sanadia Smith - 1st Place

Women’s Fit-Model -

Sanadia Smith - 1st Place

Men’s Fit-Model -

Alexander Kemp -

1st Place

Women’s Wellness - Cara Saunders - 1st Place; Altonmique Curtis - 2nd Place; Dedicated Thompson - 3rd Place

Women’s Bikini - Kastachia Staurt - 1st Place; Brittany Davis - 2nd Place; Danielle Rollins - 3rd Place.

Men’s Classic Physique - Orick Nesbitt - 1st Place; Andrew Sweeting - 2nd Place.

Men’s Physique - Terrion Kemp - 1st Place; Frederick Greene - 2nd Place - Zak Bain - 3rd Place.