Barbados names 17 for CAC Bodybuilding

Nine men and eight women will represent Barbados at the 2024 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, October 17-19 at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana. The South American territory will host the competition for the first time in two decades.

Headlining the team will be Julian Belgrave and Bukkiah Providence, gold and silver medalists last year in Aruba, both of whom are registered for the men’s physique competition.

Belgrave is the defending champion in the master’s category, the only gold for Barbados, and he was third in the senior men’s physique 173 cm category.

Providence, the reigning national men’s physique champion, took part in the senior men’s physique over 179 cm category in Aruba, and achieved an admirable second place.

In men’s bodybuilding, Barbados will be represented by Timon Howard (70 kg), Curtis Kirby (65 kg), Sanaj Lewis (75 kg), and Roger Streeks (75 kg).

Lewis recently repeated as Mr Barbados at the Barbados Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (BABBFF) National Championships, held at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium. He made a strong showing at the 2023 CAC Championships, earning a respectable fourth place.

Kirk Bovell and Jurad Mason will compete in the men’s classic physique. Mason, a national champion, was a 2023 silver medalist in the 175 cm division.

Tyrell Forde has been entered in the men’s muscular physique competition.

Sherri-Lyn Burke, Michelle Bryan, and Trudi-Ann Bovell are down to compete in women’s bikini fitness. Bovell had back-to-back third-place finishes in the master women’s bikini and senior women’s bikini 164 cm categories in Aruba.

Shanice Mason (169 cm), Danielle Holder, and Janelle Butcher (158 cm) are set to compete in women’s body fitness.

Mason made a remarkable debut at BABBFF Nationals, capturing the overall women’s title and the 169 cm category with her athleticism, symmetry, and stage presence.

Rashida Gill is set to go in women’s wellness, the title she won at Nationals, also competing in the 158 cm class, which she won.

Rounding out the team is Leanna Carter in women’s physique.

BABBFF officials were impressed by the national team’s showing in 2023, including one gold medal, four silver, and four bronze.

The delegation to Guyana will be led by vice president of the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, Roger Boyce. Second vice president of BABBFF, Corey Morris is the team manager. IFBB Elite Pro Ramon Broomes is the head coach, accompanied by assistant coach Shakira Doughlin.

BABBFF president Dr Alfred Sparman and two judges will also accompany the team, which departs Barbados on October 16. Team members will be hard at work over the next six weeks, preparing themselves to compete against the region’s best.

Among the countries confirmed to attend are Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago.

(TF)