UK NATIONALS

By John Plummer

Photography by Kevin Horton

You can view and buy photos from this event here. To order your images as a package, email ukbffphotos@gmail.com.

The UK Nationals has become a popular event since it was first staged in 2013 because it offers the best competitors the chance to compete in international IFBB events.

Remember, the UKBFF is the only bodybuilding federation in the UK affiliated to the IFBB so it opens up these kinds of opportunities.

Today’s event some quality physiques take to the stage in Gravesend, Kent.

MALE CLASSES

The day’s standout bodybuilder was Keith ‘Kiff’ Nimo, who won the masters over-40s and the open over-80 kg class. Weighing in at 97 kg, it’s doubtful whether Kiff has ever looked better. He’s always had an eye-catching shape but he’s balanced it out beautifully and seems to have ironed out the conditioning problems that have held him back a bit in the past. He cut a great classic X shape in the front poses and then turning round to show cuts in his hamstrings. Holding it all together was a midsection packed with abs and cuts. The judges were suitably impressed and offered him British and international invites.

Over 50s winner Dean O’Connor, who entered at the last minute, doesn’t have the same aesthetics but he packs a lot of muscle on his frame, from head to toe. He only decided to enter at the last minute but you’d never have guessed. A proper thickly muscled bodybuilder.

Macbeth Fernandes showed the foundations of a good physique in winning the up to 80 kg class. His chest and quads particularly caught the eye.

Men’s physique tall winner Petru-Gabriel Teslaru had a fabulous and imposing shape, with really wide shoulders narrowing down to a tiny waist. He is borderline for IFBB men’s physique because of his level of muscularity and he might wish to consider muscular men’s physique.

Manraj Dhillion, who finished runner-up to Petru-Gabriel, had the consolation of winning junior men’s physique. At just 20 years old, he definitely has the IFBB men’s physique look. He’s a good looking guy with an attractive and well balanced shape.

Aq Pham, who won the up to 176cm men’s physique class, was the shorter guy on stage but had thicker upper body muscularity and a nice taper. Runner-up Alex Richards can be proud of the conditioning he brought to the stage. He certainly brought the shreds.

FEMALE CLASSES

Karly Tolentino, who won the tall bikini fitness class, looks a great prospect. Her physique is spot on for IFBB bikini fitness: all sculpted tight lines but nothing too extreme, plus plenty of sass and stage presence too.

Two extremely well-conditioned women took to the stage in masters bikini fitness. Elahe Papaghi Aghdum and Fabiana Martins both really brought it, with everything from their shapes and tans suggesting they were seasoned competitors when the truth is they were novices.

Elahe got the verdict and won her open height glass. The Iranian-born beauty looked good from all angles, including those hard to nail rear poses. Fabiana Martins displayed the tiniest of waists and made a strong impression.

Tyler Clark made the long trek from Cumbria worthwhile by winning bodyfitness. The six-hour drive didn’t harm her condition — she was sharp, with particularly good detail in her back. A good stage performer too, she transitioned slowly and confident between poses.

The attractive and athletic Berin Hasan took home the winner’s trophy in the short bikini fitness height class.

RESULTS

Junior Men’s Physique

1 Manraj Dhillion

Masters Bikini Fitness

1 Elahe Papaghi Aghdum

2 Fabiana Martins

Masters Men’s Bodybuilding over 40

1 Keith Nimo

Masters Men’s Bodybuilding over 50s

1 Dean O’Connor

Bodyfitness

1 Tyler Clark

Bodybuilding over-80kg

1 Keith Nimo

2 Macbeth Fernandes

Bikini Fitness up to 162cm

1 Berin Hasan

2 Fabiana Martins

Bikini Fitness over 162cm

1 Karly Tolentino

Men’s Physique up to 176cm

1 Aq Pham

2 Alex Richards

Men’s Physique over 176cm

1 Petru-Gabriel Teslaru

2 Manraj Dhillion