Over 40 and dominant: Why Masters bodybuilding is raising the bar
Over 40 bodybuilding is no longer a secondary category. Across the UK, Masters athletes are raising the standard, bringing size, condition and experience that often rivals – and sometimes surpasses – open competitors.
By Gary Chappell
FOR years, Masters bodybuilding was treated as an afterthought. A place for older competitors to dust off the trunks, show they had still “got it” and then quietly make way for the younger lads in the Open. That view is finished. The truth is this: Masters Bodybuilding is now one of the strongest, most competitive divisions in the UK.
Go to any PCA, NABBA or 2Bros show and the evidence is there. The Over-40s are turning up fuller, harder and sharper than many half their age. Far from being a second-tier class, Masters has become the proving ground for dense, mature muscle and serious condition.
Why over 40 bodybuilding is growing
Why? Experience, for one. By 40, the average competitor has spent two decades under the bar. Mistakes have been made, lessons learned and physiques built layer by layer. That maturity shows. Where juniors and first-timers often bring nice lines but lack thickness, Masters physiques carry the granite look only years of training can produce.
GRANITE: Masters Over 40 and Open boddybuilder Neil Andrews
Take competitors such as Neil Andrews and Jay Davies, both of whom are in their early 40s but who routinely compete and win Open bodybuilding classes. Indeed, Andrews is a PCA Pro, won that federation's Masters Pro British title last season and defends it on Sunday, October 19.
And that is to name just two. You can include in that list the likes of 2025 NABBA Masters Mr Britain Ricky Moore, 2024 NABBA Masters Mr England Nader Zareinoor and 2023 PCA Britain Over 40s winner Alan Carson.
The standard in Masters categories
The simple fact is that many of Over 40 Masters bodybuilding competitors are stepping on stage every bit as ready as the so-called young guns. You can even stretch this to the Over 50s, with Sunday's PCA British Finals having to split that class into Over 50 short and Over 50 tall due to the sheer numbers competing.
And it is not just size. Conditioning is often better in Masters. There is less chasing of social media “fullness” and more attention to detail. Glutes, hamstrings, abs – the cuts are there, the stage presence is polished, the professionalism obvious.
SIMPLY MAGIC: Jay Davies will be heading to Milan for the European Masters in November
This isn’t to say Opens are weak. Far from it. But the stereotype that Masters is the warm-up act simply does not hold any more. Classes are routinely stacked – and stacked with great physiques. You will often find Class 2 bodybuilding categories with far fewer competitors than the Masters. Britain’s bodybuilding backbone is being carried by athletes over 40 who are proving longevity, maturity and discipline still matter.
Federations should take note. If Masters is consistently drawing deep line-ups of high calibre athletes, maybe it deserves more spotlight – not less.
Over 40 is not the end. In UK bodybuilding right now, it is very often the standard.
First-Time bodybuilding: Is the judging standard clear enough for beginners?
For anyone entering their first bodybuilding competition, one of the biggest unknowns is judging. While federations outline criteria such as symmetry, muscularity and conditioning, the reality on stage can feel far less clear, especially for first-time competitors.
COMMENTBy Gary Chappell
ARGUABLY the biggest show on the British amateur circuit in terms of sheer competitor numbers is the PCA First Timers. It’s enormously popular: well run, slick and carries an electric atmosphere. But in some of the so-called “bodybuilding” classes, the physiques being rewarded don’t actually look like bodybuilding physiques. Instead of dense muscle, maturity and mass, it’s the slimmer, more aesthetic look taking the top spots.
That raises an awkward but unavoidable question. What exactly are some of the first-timer categories supposed to be about? If they are bodybuilding classes, then muscle and condition should be king. If they more about symmetry and flow, then call them Classic. At the moment, competitors are chasing one ideal while the judges often seem to reward another.
For athletes and coaches, that inconsistency matters. Months of prep, dieting and posing can be undone by judging that doesn't appear to be aligned with the category title.
CHAMPION: Alan Costa delivered an incredible package but was arguably more bodybuilder than Classic
A First Timers show of incredible standard
Take the recent PCA First Timers Five, which took place on Sunday, September 21 in Telford.
The quality and standard of the competitors was incredible. These did not look like first timers – they were polished. The 450 entrants tell their own story of just how popular the PCA First Timers has become. There is no criticism here. The PCA has its way, does its own thing and clearly does it well.
Take the overall winner, for example – Alan Costa. A very deserving champion. He brought a superb physique, dense muscle and the kind of bodybuilding look that would stand out in any line-up.
But to reach that overall title he came through Classic Tall. With the greatest respect to Costa, there was very little that could be described as “classic” about him. He looked every inch the bodybuilder. It raises the question: if a physique like Costa’s – clearly bodybuilding in nature – is winning Classic and classic-looking physiques are winning 'bodybuilding' categories, how are competitors supposed to know what look to aim for?
MATT FINISH: Ford was awarded fourth place in Junior Bodybuilding Tall
Size not always rewarded
Then look at the Junior Bodybuilding class, an enormous category that had to be split into height classes due to the sheer numbers. Even then, the Junior Bodybuilding Tall class had 14 athletes.
As they took their positions on stage, one stood out. Matthew Ford was considerably bigger than any of his 13 rivals. He had incredible mass and good condition — enough, you would think, to win a bodybuilding class. But he was awarded fourth place.
The three men given the nod ahead of him all had good physiques, but not nearly as much muscle. And remember, this was Junior Bodybuilding, not Junior Classic.
It is this inconsistency that confuses. Think of it like trying to hit a moving target while riding the world’s fastest rollercoaster. Bodybuilding will always be subjective, but when results don’t match the class criteria, competitors paying their fees are entitled to question it.
TALL ORDER: Michael Wallaberger's classic lines were given the nod in Junior Bodybuilding Tall
Another example came in Bodybuilding Medium. Luke Blake displayed pro-level muscle and will surely earn his IFBB Pro card at some point. He had more than enough size to dominate his class. Yet the victory went to a much smaller competitor.
Blake’s midsection wasn’t as sharp as it could have been – his condition likely cost him. But when someone carries that much muscle, to overlook them almost feels like an active avoidance of rewarding the bodybuilding look.
TIGHT AT THE TOP: The mass of Luke Blake (far left) was not enough to beat Bodybuilding Medium winner Stephen Eley
Has the PCA drifted from bodybuilding?
You do have to wonder whether the PCA is moving away from bodybuilding per se and leaning toward a “prettier” look in their winners.
Because as good as Costa was — and he was outstanding — if his look was “Classic,” then how did he manage to beat Bodybuilding Tall winner Josh Davis for the overall? Davis was peeled, with full striations across his glutes, carrying both size and condition. Yet he wasn’t considered good enough for that overall sword.
So the question remains: is the judging criteria at these First-Timer shows clear enough?
Either way, the competitors — the lifeblood of the sport — deserve clarity.
And why this is the only sport where athletes pay to be a pro
The cost of competitive bodybuilding is often underestimated. From federation fees and show entry to coaching, food and supplements, the financial commitment quickly adds up. This article breaks down the real cost of stepping on stage in the UK, and why bodybuilding is one of the few sports where athletes pay to compete.
THE promotion of 2025 bodybuilding shows has already begun – but just how expensive is it to be a competitive bodybuilder?
There are federation membership fees to consider, show entry costs, additional classes, tanning, official photos, coaching. And that is without even mentioning food and supplements.
The true cost of competitive bodybuilding in the UK
1. UKBFF (United Kingdom Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation)
6. IBFA (International Bodybuilding & Fitness Association)
Membership Fee: £35 per year
Entry Fee: £30-£50 per class
Additional Classes: £20-£30 per class
Tanning (optional): £60-£80
Stage Photos (optional): £30-£50
7. UKDFBA (United Kingdom Drug Free Bodybuilding Association)
Membership Fee: £35 per year
Entry Fee: £35-£60 per class
Additional Classes: £25-£40 per class
Tanning (optional): £50-£80
Stage Photos (optional): £40-£60
The hidden costs of bodybuilding
Travel and accommodation: Depending on where the competition is held, travel and overnight stays may add significant costs.
Posing trunks/bikini: £50-£300 (depending on custom designs and quality)
Coaching and prep: This can vary widely, from £100 to £1,000 plus depending on the coach and length of prep.
Supplements and nutrition: Monthly costs of supplements and a competition diet plan.
Let's take competing with the PCA as an example. If a person had ambitions to compete at the PCA British Finals and Universe, this would first involve competing at a regional qualifier. So it would roughly work out as follows:
Remember, as we have mentioned in our additional expenditure, this is without travel and hotel costs, which could easily push the cost of bodybuilding for a season to more than £650.
Then when you factor in the cost of hiring a coach and add in nutrition and supplements, preparing for just two or three shows a season could cost a single competitor well in excess of £1000 a year. When you consider too that some people compete overseas, the cost of competing could come in more than double this amount.
Let's not forget that if you are lucky enough to win a pro card with any federation, this also costs money to register – upwards of 250 Euros per season.
In any other sport, professional means you are the one being paid. So the true cost of being a competitive bodybuilder is certainly something to consider when federations trot out their favoured line of: "We are all for the athletes..."
Written and edited by Gary Chappell, UK Masters bodybuilder, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Advisor, prep and lifestyle coach and former national newspaper sports journalist.
Honorary Life President Jim Charles has defended the federation’s future, insisting it is “not going anywhere” despite growing competition and the increasing role of finance in bodybuilding – but tells his young reps to "calm down" because "it's not all about money"
By Gary Chappell
NABBA'S Honorary Life President Jim Charles has defended his federation saying it is going nowhere – much like the Royal family.
In an exclusive interview with frontdouble.com, Charles – who has been with NABBA for 66 years – believes amateur bodybuilding has become 'all about money'. And ahead of the 75th Anniversary of the Mr Universe on November 3, he has revealed how he has extended an invitation to Arnold Schwarzenegger – saying how the bodybuilding icon and actor still owes him 7 shillings and 6 pence.
This Sunday, October 13, marks the final qualifier for the Mr Universe, with the NABBA England taking place at Brierley Hill in Dudley. Charles described entries as 'going crazy' and believes this will translate to the big one at the Birmingham NEC on November 3.
The history of NABBA bodybuilding
Established in 1948, the NABBA Universe was the first major international bodybuilding competition, setting the stage for what would become the modern era of the sport. Over the decades, it has been synonymous with excellence, attracting the world’s top physiques and producing legends that would inspire generations of bodybuilders.
LEGENDS: Arnold and Bill Pearl at the 1967 Mr Universe
The inaugural NABBA Universe competition, held in London, marked the beginning of a tradition that would elevate bodybuilding to new heights. The early years of the competition saw the emergence of iconic figures such as Steve Reeves, Reg Park and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger’s victories in the late 1960s and early 1970s not only cemented his status as a bodybuilding legend, but also brought unprecedented attention to the sport.
For many, winning the NABBA Universe title was seen as the pinnacle of a bodybuilder’s career. The event was a proving ground for the best of the best, showcasing physiques that combined mass, symmetry and aesthetics in a way that defined the golden era of bodybuilding.
NABBA’s place in modern bodybuilding
But many would argue that NABBA's influence and prestige have waned in recent years. The emergence of other bodybuilding federations has fragmented the sport, offering athletes more choices and opportunities. This has not just affected the federation's flagship competition, but NABBA as a whole.
The resurrection of the pro division at the NABBA Universe this year may give the federation some cause for optimism. Many reps were keen to stress earlier in the season that they "must make NABBA relevant again". But when asked to provide results from their shows, some reps said they were "too busy" to do so. It is akin to shooting themselves in the very foot that has just taken one step forward.
Asked where he sees NABBA's future within an increasingly tough market, Charles (above) said: "Basically, NABBA, how can I put it? It’s a bit like the Royal family. It’s there and it’s not going to go away.
"All these people who have bright ideas – in fact quite a lot of them are cancelling their shows. With the PCA, their attitude was to do it [the federation] as a limited company. Whereas we’re an amateur organisation and happy with that and it's what we want to be.
"Look what happens in football. I’m a real football fanatic. This blasted money is coming into it to such an extent, it’s ridiculous. I support Wolves and I've supported them ever since the 1950s when we were absolutely incredible. All we can do now is build a great team and along comes one of the premier sides and buys this player, then somebody buys that player and this player and that player. Until in the end, we’ve lost all our best players. It’s all about money."
Tradition vs money in the sport
Challenged on the slim chance of amateur bodybuilding becoming so extreme in that financial sense, Charles said: "We’re offering expenses now [as prizes], so we’re modernising. Otherwise if we don't do anything... It’s a case of going forward.
"And we've got some young new councillors [area representatives], who are full of great ideas. So we’re trying to combine it. Even I followed the one councillor and I’m going around the gyms with a huge poster, having pictures taken with the guys who run the gyms [in order to promote shows]. And that was because of that new rep we had from Southport, Tim Rosiek (below right).
"He’s all excitable. I said to him, 'Don’t worry, I’m copying you'. When I go, I take a bigger poster. He was taking the A4 poster that he’s handing out at all the gyms. Well, I take the A4 poster, but I also had a really big poster done, so that when the organiser or the guy at the gym holds it, it could be clearly seen [in photographs].
"I’m doing some of the things that these young people want us [NABBA] to do, but I’m trying to calm them down that it ain’t all about money.
"I mean, I had 150 competitors [at the NABBA England] in 2019 and I was frightened to death. I was thinking, 'where am I going to stack them all'? It was more than we had at the Britain. So we were going in the right direction then and then Covid came along [the Government's response was to implement a national lockdown]. And that really gave us a bending. But we're on the way back."
Some critics would argue that this is not the case and that the federation's lack of a serious social media presence is a marketing disaster. One example is rival federation the PCA, who churn out results of their shows in real time on competition days. They also heavily promote shows on social media, the number of sponsors they have and pay for professional athletes to fly to their World Championships.
But Charles said: "We've got a social media [presence] now. We're doing all that. Tim Rosiek's very excited about taking everything on. So as far as I'm concerned we're going that way."
How will the 75th Anniversary of the NABBA Universe differ?
When asked how this 75th Anniversary of the Universe would be different from previous editions, Charles said: "We've got all the countries coming. It’s been non-stop. It’s going crazy. I've got it at the NEC, which is one of the major vendors in the country. We’re in a situation where all the countries can register at the NEC. And it's also very convenient to come by train and plane. I’m hoping that’s a good move.
"But we’re also involved with Fit X and their exhibition. They are holding their British Finals on the Saturday. And if any of the competitors are really good enough, we’ll invite them to have a go in the Universe. It’s going crazy.
"I’ve also dropped a line to Arnold because he’s been there that many times. And I asked him if he could come [to the NABBA Universe] and take a bow because, without the Universe, he wouldn’t be where he is today. I haven’t asked him to reply or anything, I just wanted him to come. I don’t want to use him in any form or advertise him. My friendship’s too important for that.
"I don’t want to use him as a pawn to sell tickets. I’ve been friendly with him since we met when he was 20 years of age. I still tease him that I took him over to the cafe and ordered him baked beans on toast and a black coffee, which cost me seven and six. No – he hasn't paid me back. Every time we have an interview they say to him, 'Jim Charles has said that you still owe him seven and six'. He said, 'Yeah, tell him I’ll be back'."
Charles also spoke of how he tries to keep a tight reign on those working on the shows in which he is directly in charge. He was keen to stress that Master of Ceremonies Nigel Gordon-Rae will be told exactly what he has to do, after he received criticism for telling some competitors at the NABBA South East show in May that "obviously you have won because you are the only competitor in the class".
"I don't see the point in saying that," said Charles. "They'd have known they were the only ones when they were on stage. At the Universe, even though he has sent me an A4 of all his bright ideas, I will be telling him exactly what he's got to do. He's being paid and the rest of us are doing it because we want to, not about payment. Nigel is a good compare and is a nice guy but sometimes he gets a bit excited.
"Sometimes you give a bit of leeway to some people and they go crazy. I mean, I'm the Honorary Life President – which I've got to die to lose. I'm the chairman, I'm the show manager and I'm the general lackey. People in my gym said, 'you're cleaning the lavatory' and I said, 'yeah? It doesn't clean itself'. If the lavatory is blocked, I unblock it.
"Whoever you are dealing with, it's about trying to get their feet to stay on the ground. A lot of them [NABBA officials] are excited about putting their blazer on and being self important. With this Universe, which is going to be a really hard day, I can tell you now that the new reps and all the other reps will be working hard – otherwise they'll get a real bollocking. I won't be pulling any punches.
"We've got to kick off at 9am because we've got to get all of those categories in by 6pm. At 6pm they [the NEC] pull the plug out [stop the electric]. That's the sort of ruling at the NEC. So I have to condense 23 categories into that time. There will no interval, either. So if they [reps/judges] want something to eat and drink, Val [wife and NABBA secretary] will have to arrange someone to bring it to them. Because they won't be stopping and yakking for 40 minutes and coming back late.
"I'm going to be very popular on the day. But I've got a job to do and it's got to be done. And I'm hoping we will have a terrific show."
NABBA has what many federations do not; a strong and rich history and tradition. But is that enough in modern-day bodybuilding? Only time will tell.
Charles, 85, said: "Since Covid we have been gradually building up and all of a sudden it's gone mad. So yes we are going in the right direction. It's like I told the rest of them [NABBA officials], have a bit of patience."
Bodybuilding Judging Tips: What Judges Really Look For
Bodybuilding judge STEVE JOHNSON has revealed the simple mistakes that can ruin a competitor’s chances on stage, highlighting what judges are really looking for.
YOU have spent the best part of 16 weeks preparing for this one moment. The hard work is done. Or so you believe. Actually, some competitors can win or lose a show based on their stage presence. Don’t fall into that trap. Here are my tips for adding that final gloss:
What judges are actually looking for
SMILE
First and foremost, you only get one chance to make a first impression on the judges, so please look like you are enjoying yourself. Nobody wants to watch someone who looks miserable, but a big smile and body demeanour that makes you look like you’re enjoying yourself will always attract the eye of the judges.
POSING
As a judge, I regularly see athletes unintentionally hide their body from the judges and to be fair it’s frustrating at times. It can make a difference to your placing, as the judges can only judge what they can see and not what they can’t. You are judged on the shapes you create on the day and not what your body is really like. For example: if someone has a huge wide back but doesn’t open it on their lat spreads and the guy at side of him does, even though you know he is not as developed, you have to judge with the guy who’s back looks best in front of you. This is why its so important these days to practice posing as much as training and getting a posing coach if necessary. Your aim is to create the illusion you are better than what you are.
Make sure you practice your tan in advance of the show and that it is applied by someone who knows what they are doing. You are trying to avoid streaks and tans that will run onstage under hot lighting. There are many different tans out there as well as many different skin types, so choose appropriate tanning (and glaze) that will enhance your physique/figure. Even on the judging table (close-up view) a physique can fade into the background if too light in colour. Some federations allow instant tans backstage and some don’t, so always check up on this and follow the pre-tanning protocols for skin preparation.
SHAVING
One thing that is off putting to a judge is body hair, so please make sure you remove visible hair as necessary. Guys need to be more on point with this than girls and I have seen many athletes do a partial job and its very distracting to the eye and ruins the professionalism of your overall appearance. I have seen it this year and, although in this case it didn’t affect placing (they won) it is the one thing I will remember him for and not his physique. In this instance it was shaved thighs but unshaven glutes and calves. Also, I have seen underarm hair left which again just ruins the look of the physique. This might sound pedantic but if a judge is trying to find a reason to split two athletes because it’s a close decision, then this could indeed come into their way of thinking (right or wrong).
These are just some very basic tips as there are many other things I see on a regular basis and in particular with posing, which I can cover at another time.
Don’t ruin your chances of success by not nailing these simple areas.
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