Belle takes top spot

 

Before an excited and thrilled audience, Barbadian Stevenson Belle claimed the keenly contested title at the 9th edition of the Darcy Beckles Invitational Classic.

 

Belle, who is a two-time Mr. Barbados, went one step better than his second place finish last year to beat out fan favourite, Soepe ‘Short Man’ Koese from Suriname, who finished second. The audience, though very accepting of the result, was shocked at the judges’ decision as they expected Koese to take the top spot. Belle and Koese were the expected top two from as early as the group posing session, but Belle stood out with a smooth-free posing segment. In that session, Belle and Koese could be seen taking the fight to each other, along with the other competitors vying for the judges’ attention. Third place in the Invitational went to Kenny Jacobs of Antigua, who represented his country very well.

 

There were seven other categories, with the Men’s Bodybuilding Open Classic starting the night’s proceedings. 

 

The men displayed not just muscle and definition, but some of them also displayed great stage presence with special mention to Barbados’ Samuel Eastmond whose smile and dancing sent the crowd hollering. Much to his supporters’ glee, Shaquille Levine, also from Barbados, walked away with the Open Classic title followed by Geshaunne Clarke out of Anguilla for second and Suriname’s Anthony Kerui rounded out the top three. Eastmond finished in 5th.

 

Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) were not be left out of winners’ row as Natasha Bonopart walked away with first place in the Women’s Physique category. Handling the Compulsory poses and free posing segments commendably, Rhonda Browne from Barbados took second and Latoya Hamilton joined her countrywoman on the podium with a third place finish. The Women’s Body Fitness category was won by Tamesha Lewis representing Barbados. Lewis and second place Ramona Morgan, also from Barbados, battled it out firstly in the T-Walk and then in the turns section, while third went to Antigua’s Sher-Rhonda Brathwaite.