By Gary Chappell
AHEAD of the NABBA World Championships one message was hammered home: Change was needed after leadership and direction problems.
After spending a full day in Gateshead, the verdict is perhaps exactly what NABBA needed: genuine progress, but plenty still to fix.
Yet failing to acknowledge the genuine steps forward NABBA has taken would be unfair. The federation is modernising, of that there is no doubt.
International chairman Eddy Ellwood has a clear passion and no-nonsense attitude the federation has been crying out for. He acted as compère for the day at the NABBA World Championships on Sunday, June 21, 2026, bringing it to the UK for the first time in living memory.
The nod to its history – arguably NABBA's strongest weapon against its rivals – should also be recognised, with Ellwood presenting John Citrone with a Lifetime Achievement award before proceedings with the words: "No one in the country does more for British bodybuilding than John Citrone."
As for the competitors, there were several absolute gems – and FrontDouble will detail those as we go. But some of the condition on show simply was not at World Championship level. If you're prepared to pay a £100 entry fee believing you are stage ready, then you should be stage ready. Some – not many, but some – looked weeks away from competing. They either need to hire someone or fire someone because that level of conditioning is not befitting of a World Championships.
Still, one person who that could never apply to is the ageless Shiraz Mirza. In his first season competing with NABBA, the Masters Men's Physique athlete shone just as anyone who has ever watched him would expect. His carved physique screamed winner as soon as he appeared from behind the curtain, no matter the standard of others. Rivals' hearts must sink at the sight of him.
His presentation is flamboyant but every movement is as sharp as his physique. He flows naturally, controls his breathing superbly, keeps his midsection tight and isn't afraid to show off.
The UK's Lukasz Kasina could have won the Men's Physique Open easily. But his lack of midsection control and inability to crunch right down in his ab poses ultimately cost him dear. The winner, Mexico's Louis Teran, was sharper in those poses, which is what likely saw him take the victory, as Kasina was clearly the more muscular guy. And if he can nail that control he will be a threat wherever he goes.
Some of the female classes remain a mystery in terms of criteria, however. Take Roslyn Johnston, who lined up in Trained Bikini. As good as she was, she simply looked like a bikini athlete, with her two rivals far sharper in definition and thus, you would have thought, more suited to the 'trained' category. Whoever suggested Johnston was most suited to Bikini Trained likely did her a disservice; she was far more suited to Open Bikini and would have done well.
Similar issues looked apparent in Toned Figure, with the disparity between some physiques quite baffling. Take Terri James, for example. Nothing wrong with her physique. In fact, she was very lean and very muscular. But herein lies the problem; she was perhaps too lean and too muscular for this particular class. And so it proved. The top two showcased a totally different look from the rest.
Rachael Turnbull, runner-up, boasted a tiny waist, beaming smile, great back, shapley glutes and strong side poses. Winner Jennifer Newton, above, had glutes slightly boxed, excellent condition and nice shape. The look of these two was far more 'toned figure' than the others.
As for Miss Over 45 open, it was almost impossible for the audience to follow despite the compere announcing which category they represent. You see, this class was judged not on which athlete was best, but which suited their own category the most. But after the initial announcement on which category they were representing, unless they were taking notes, spectators would simply have forgotten, especially with 12 in the class.
Teen bodybuilding was particularly impressive. Softer physiques than many of the men's classes, but winner George Holland – just 15 – had a decent midsection, good lat spread, was defined in the chest and had the best most-muscular pose. He just edged out Sam McClean, despite his tiny waist. Third-placed Modestas Nevardaus was very sharp in most poses but just lacked a little leg muscle. He was, however, probably the most conditioned up there.
There were more gems scattered across the second half of the show, not least Rafa De Pedro, above, in the Men's Over 55s. Young skin, heavily muscled, enormous quads, he was the clear winner of this class. When he reappeared for Class 3 – taking third – he schooled younger competitors on posing and breathing control; you barely saw him struggle and his midsection remained tight throughout.
The battle between him and top two Connor Lewis and Rob Oldham was a delight; they were seriously put through their paces, but Waldon's sharpness and extra muscle saw him squeeze home. Lewis's structure is always going to be his strong point, however. Incredible aesthetics. Tad more muscle and he will be even more of a danger.
Another absolute star was Italy's Davide Pioggia, below, who went on to win his NABBA Pro Card, won the Pro Bodybuilding show and probably should have won the amateur men's overall too. That is not to take anything away from eventual winner Rob Oldham, who was fantastic in his own right. But Pioggia had the lot; incredible structure, tiny waist, big, broad shoulders, heavily muscled with strong aesthetics. If we were nit-picking, then he could work on his breathing and midsection control, but this was a physique no one could ignore.
One competitor that drives FrontDouble to distraction, however, is Classic bodybuilder Nick Smith, below. The man has enormous potential. And is likely better than he thinks he is. His structure is akin to the incredible Brian Buchanan; tiny, almost non-existent waist, wide clavicles, silky, flowing posing.
But just as he did at the NABBA South East, his condition could be so much sharper, particularly in his legs - which are huge. Despite winning the Classic class and coming second in the Pro Classic after being offered his Pro Card, Smith could have won everything here at a canter if he was fractionally sharper – and that is what frustrates.
Notable disappointments came in Class 3, with Matthew Seddon packing a ton of muscle and a very nice structure, but simply not bringing anywhere near the condition that could have bagged him this victory with ease. He looked disappointed at fifth place, but could count himself lucky with that. He's better than this showing by a mile and he probably knows it.
The other one was Class 1 athlete Gye Grauzinis. He took the overall victory at the PCA South West on June 7, but did not look in good enough condition here. But that is all that was lacking; the guy is enormous. Tall, massive calves, huge legs, big smile. Come in shredded and he is going to be hard to beat wherever he competes.
Class 2 is never a category to disappoint and certainly didn't on this occasion. Lee Dwayre had the edge over his rivals thanks to his superior structure, razor condition and size, though could showcase his rear double a little better by leaning back a fraction more in that pose.
As for the women, Tracy Hutchison cleaned up, taking Miss Athletic Figure – Melanie Oman's fifth place was a shocker here, she really was much higher – and the ladies overall. Fantastic package, particularly for a taller lady. And Lithuania's Geidre Banaitiene will probably need to purcjase extra luggage for her journey home. She won Masters Bikini, Open Bikini and Pro Bikini. Great hysique, but could probably shorten her eye walk. At one point she was simply told to get back in line as she continued to strutt across the stage.
Talking of overalls, the impression of the show itself was one of success. It will take a while for NABBA to achieve what it wants given the creases in the folds; to borrow a football parlance, no one is bigger than the club...
But for the first time in a long time NABBA feels like a federation moving forwards rather than looking backwards. And that, perhaps, is the biggest victory of the weekend.
Pictures by James Lineham. Visit his website HERE
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