By Gary Chappell
WHEN a promoter with influence, pizzazz, glitz and glamour hosts a show, it is little wonder the vibe is one to match exactly that personality.
Sibel Osman put on the SOPRO Night of Champions on Saturday, September 19, 2026 under the banner of the IBFA – and did exactly what it said on the tin – put on a show to remember.
The auditorium in Wolverhampton was rammed with clothing, supplement and snack stalls – including new clothing company Mass Appeal – with advertising hoardings adorning a well-lit stage, something sadly not always guaranteed in amateur bodybuilding.
Osman (above, left) said: "I'm absolutely over the moon with how the show went. I was met with a few obstacles while setting up, but nothing I couldn't rapidly deal with. I was actually at the venue the evening before and spent five hours setting up, making sure the lighting was correct, the sound system, all of it – doing the best I could to enable an easier flow on show day."
It was also good to see John Youssef on the judging panel; himself a strong Masters Over 40 competitor and now a promotor, with his much-anticipated Terminator Classic with the IBFA scheduled for May 16, 2027.
In the build-up, IBFA chairman Matthew Ali, given a special award here, made a social media post about Osman's decision to run a costume competition as part of the show. Initially he did not want it done but later changed his mind. While it is not bodybuilding per se, the object here was clearly to provide entertainment and give spectators – who risk numb glutes show after show, with many running for hours – some additional light relief. In that regard, it served its purpose. As did the gentle but jovial half-time show involving Wolverine and Deadpool. Just a bit of fun, no harm done.
Osman said: "The two breaks went down very well, because these shows can be long and uncomfortable for an audience without a chance to grab something to eat or drink, or go to the toilet. The way I broke the day into segments gave people the comfort breaks they needed, let me do a bit of entertainment in between and broke the show up in a way that made sense: the first segment was the non-bodybuilding categories and the junior first-timers, then a break, then bodybuilding male, bodybuilding female, then the overalls, plus additional fun prizes – best poser, a costume prize and so on."
As for the competitors themselves, Osman's clear influence within the industry was likely the reason there were more female athletes than males, but Class 2 winner Don Valley (above) took the overall thanks to his mass monster appeal.
The 36-year-old was round and full. He packs a good deal of muscle and, if he can bring a sharper, more conditioned package – something he openly admits is always a struggle for him – he will be a threat on any Class 2/Bodybuilding medium stage. He aims to go again in the PCA England and PCA British next month.
Valley said: "Winning the overall meant a lot to me. It's all part of my journey towards becoming a pro bodybuilder. I also got to meet lots of people who are like minded and now have become friends for life.
"My coach, Neil Andrews, has now dropped my food down in order to pull more condition, which is needed to be able to compete at the next shows i have planned. I'm here for it and will do the work I want to showcase my potential and achieve PCA Pro status."
Rafal Kwiatkowski (below) won the Over 40s and Class 3 and always brings a dense, muscular upper body. This was his 13th show of the season. Even more impressive when you consider he had a heart attack five years ago. He turns 50 next year and shows no signs of throwing in the towel.
As for the females, there were a number of standouts, particularly overall winner Alice Robinson and Wellness winner Shay Aminzadeh.
But the decision to put different females together continues to baffle. Several federations do this, not just the IBFA, yet it breeds confusion.
In the Open Over 50 female, we had three women posing based on one criteria and one posing as a bodybuilder. It simply does not look right. And frankly it was more confusing when the results were read out. The two figure girls finished first and third, with the bodybuilder in second. Explain that one? Even the judge said it was "not easy" for them. You don't say. Spare a thought for those watching in the crowd.
The same happened in Open Over 40. The look was just too different to compare. One can only hope this experiment is dropped sooner rather than later. Lisa Lamb, called as winner here, had a great upper body, but could have done with far more conditioning on her lower half. The competitor who placed fourth of four and was officially unplaced was in better condition and had better shape, so can count herself very unlucky not to have got among the trophies.
Wellness competitor Aminzadeh (below) was a standout, however. She may well have been the sole athlete in this category but she suited the class impeccably. Aminzadeh's physique is an excellent example of wellness; full, round and with superb shape. She returned to the stage for Bikini Trained but was never going to take that class with a body so suited to Wellness.
Victory there went, quite rightly, to Alice Robinson. She is a lovely, streamlined bikini athlete, with enough definition, particularly in her midsection, to take the 'trained' version of the category, open bikini and, with it, the female overall title.
Osman added: "The athletes' experience, well-being and happiness is absolutely everything to me, as is the audience experience. Having planned and done events of multiple types for decades, I know how to create schedules, manage professionals, manage staff, micromanage if need be – all the things one needs to get a handle on with events.
"Although I'd never done a bodybuilding event before – this being my first time promoting a bodybuilding show – I'm no stranger to events and that was very useful, because I have a large repertoire of professionals I can call on and draft in – lighting, sound, production, goodie bags, brands, whatever it may be. I'm also very good at visualising what I want from an event and making that visualisation a reality.
"The experience was critical – how people were treated, how they were made to feel. The show was succinct, smooth, ran on time and everything that needed to be done was done. Everything they needed, they had. There was never a question of "there isn't this" or "there isn't that" – there was enough, and more than enough, of everything and then some.
"Everything from the pump-up gym area to the food, the chill-out area, the hair and make-up zone, the tanning zone, multiple crew members easily identifiable in crew T-shirts, athlete meetings, staff meetings, judge meetings, goodie bags full and laden with everything they could want.
"I felt it was an incredible success. I've had hundreds and hundreds of messages and I'm working through all of them, because I've always been one to personally respond, speak to, call people back. They've been overwhelmed – I've had athletes crying with gratitude, saying it was the most humbling, most wholesome, most professional event they've ever been to.
"I haven't stopped crying. Honestly, my heart is entirely full."
Pictures by James Lineham. Visit his website HERE
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