Highlights from the contest:
2010 Mr. /Ms. North Carolina Bodybuilding & Fitness/Figure Championships
19 June 2010/Saturday
Northern High School, Durham, NC 27712
This years Mr. / Ms. North Carolina marked its 5th season under the NPA’s flag. Twenty five athletes signed up to make this contest a big success. However, only twenty four showed up to compete and there were an additional twenty crossovers. Promoter and NPA Pro athlete; Gloria Knight-McNeil did a fine job getting the well kept, Northern High School venue prepared for the athletes.
The athletes were in superb condition and looked collectively as good as any Mr. /Ms. North Carolina contest previously held by the NPA in the state of North Carolina. The fans, families and friends which generally make up the audience came out and supported their favorites.
Everything started on time and Novice men opened up the event from prejudging to the finals. In the novice lightweight (under 175 lbs) 3rd place was claimed by Jordan Bourgeois, military personal who makes his commitment with the coast guard, Hampton, VA. 2nd place went to Jeff Williams, Raleigh, NC who looked good and was in shape. The winner of the class Gregory “G – money” Manley, Durham, NC was hard as nails and positively had the package to win the novice division.
In the novice heavyweight class (men over 175 lbs) there were six, but only five would be in the award ceremony. 6th place was presented to Cedric Perry, an attorney from Rocky Mount, NC. 5th place was earned by Richard Jones, Raleigh, NC. 4th place was awarded to another attorney in Clark Fischer, Winston-Salem, NC. 3rd place was awarded to David Bowers, Browns Summit, NC, a man who once weighed over 300 lbs. Very interesting two judges actually thought David should of placed 2nd. Getting the majority of the 2nd place votes was Herman Gaskins III, Washington, NC. Herman looked great and made the judges’ job hard between him and Bowers. Winning the class was Ryan McNeal, Roanoke, Va. McNeal went on to win the overall North Carolina novice title over Gregory Manley who was also hard as nails, McNeal was a little bigger.
There was a female novice division and representing the heavyweight class (125(+) was Dawn Skelton, Raleigh, NC who went uncontested and was awarded the overall title as well.
The men masters’ division was presented next. In the Masters (50+) there were only two. Clark Fischer unanimously won the decision over 2nd place Cedric Perry. The (40-49) division drew seven well conditioned masters’ athletes. Only the top five (5) receive awards. In 7th place was Richard Jones, Raleigh, NC, 6th place was William Evans, Durham NC , Jeff Williams, Raleigh, NC earned 5th place, Shan Daniels, Durham NC placed 4th, and in 3rd position was David Bowers, heavyweight Owen Lucas, Raleigh, NC earned 2nd place and the winner of the class was a very polished Kestutis Maciulis of Holly Springs, NC. In the (35-39) division there were two. Myron Holmes, Durham, NC placed 2nd. In the overall masters pose down between Fischer, Maciulis, and Manley, Maciulis was the much bigger man and won an unanimous decision over the other two.
The master’s women presented two in the (40 (+), Dawn Skelton, Apex, NC placed 2nd and the winner Lisa Weber, Cary, NC who would not only win the class but the division as well, to include the best female poser award. In the open Ms. North Carolina Weber didn’t participate and left the title to Phyllis Gaukel, Durham, NC to claim as the only female athlete in the female open division. This made Phyllis have a real easy day. Phyllis had done her homework and was prepared for the competition.
In the masters figure (40+) there were two. Coming in second place was Michelle Jones, Catawba, NC who looked good and 1st place was presented to Erin Keller, Atlantic Beach, NC. Both of these athletes looked great. In the masters (35-39) the lovely Whitney Ray, Roanoke, VA who competed in the Ms. Virginia back in April went uncontested and was awarded the class title. When Ray and Keller met for the overall master’s figure title, Ray got the decision and was crowned the Masters Ms. Figure North Carolina.
Next came the open figure competition. In the under 5’5” class (short) 2nd place was claimed by Janelle Pierce, Spring Lake, NC who did receive one 1st place vote in the 2nd round. The winner of the class was Whitney Ray who had one victory under her belt. In the 5” 5” (+) Tall 2nd place was presented to Janelle Pierce and once again Erin Keller was the winner. When Keller and Ray met for the overall title, Ray had done enough to be declared the overall open figure title.
The open men division was filled up with crossovers. The lightweight (under 165): class was lead by four hungry athletes. 4th place belonged to Jonathan Bourgeois, 3rd place went to Dr. Gary Leung, Chapel Hill, NC, 2nd place went to Shan Daniels, and the winner was G- Money!
In the Middleweight class (165 to under 185): there were eight (8) athletes. Again only the top 5 would be recognized. Finishing in 8th place was Richard Jones , Elliot Grout, Creedmoor, NC claimed 7th place, while Clark Fischer earned 6th place. Fighting as hard as he could Jeff Williams rounded out the top five, placing 5th. Herman Gaskins III earned 4th place and earning the bronze placement was Myron Holmes who looked pretty darn good placing 3rd. Ryan Mc Neal bought a great package and on any other day could have won this class. A phenomenon of an athlete by the name of Joe Ohrablo, Raleigh, NC was in superb condition and came to win this competition. A Unanimous winner in the largest and best class of the competition according to what the judges placed on their score sheets. There were no Light heavyweights (185 to under 200).
In the Heavyweight class (200+): three came in and they looked good. 3rd place was taken by William Evans, 2nd place went Owen Lucas and the winner of the class was Kestutis Maciulis. In the Open North Carolina overall; G Money, Joe Ohrablo, and Kestutis Maciulis went at it for the overall. Ohrablo was clearly with out a doubt the winner and best poser of the show. Much credit goes out to Joe. If he desires he will go a long ways in the Natural Physique Association. This athlete is the real deal and if he competes in the Nationals next month he’s going to be very difficult to beat. He has all the qualities to be a NPA pro athlete.
Congratulations to all the winners that made history and established standards that will set the stage for years to come.
I’d like to recognize Head Judge Narva Daniels, and her panel of JW Hicks, Tami Prager, Rodney Barnes, Ron Smock-McCarthy, and Stephan Kitchen for their hard work and dedication.
Also special thanks go out to my daughter Rochelle Silas, expediter, Veronica Paylor, Joseph Sumpter III for their guest posing presentation, Gloria Knight-McNeil’s family who provided logistical help with the show, Robert Thomas, the NPA official photographer, Chill Will Lynch, Melanie Silino, Steve Dickerson , Kevin Hammons, Kyle Burge, the Mu Omega Psi Fraternity Inc. and Northern High School. Until next year “keep on Pumpin”./ Harry E. Silas/NPA President
