Jermaine Henry and Avernell Modest were crowned overall champions of the 2018 Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) National Championship and Fitness Festival on Saturday.

Henry of Classic Body Fitness and Fit Farm’s representative Modest were a cut above the rest of the compact men and women who were out in full force for this two-day championship which started on Friday.

Over 140 competitors graced the stage inside the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica PApine Campus much to the delight of the large crowd, who were highly entertained by the fierce yet friendly rivalry between competitors.

Fitness, women’s physique and bikini, men’s physique, and men’s bodybuilding were some of the categories contested by the men and women who aspire to develop and maintain an aesthetically pleasing (by bodybuilding standards) body.

Henry, who had earlier won the heavyweight category ahead of Andrew Chisholm and Floyd Mullings, was crowned Mr Jamaica Bodybuilding Champion after he outposed John Mark Reid, Dwight James and Cecil Beacon in a final pose down.

“It was a great experience; I have been working on this for a year, and it’s finally here, so I am so happy and overwhelmed right now. I told my kids before I left home that Daddy is going to bring home the trophy because this is why I work so hard in everything I do; and I am just happy and speechless right now,” Henry said.

“I always accept a challenge, so I was fully focused when getting prepared for this; I just told myself I am going to work hard to make it happen and tonight (Saturday) I made it happen,” Henry added.

“It wasn’t easy, because I have been through some things, but I just decided to shut everything out and told myself that I had eight weeks to get it all together, and it all fell into place at the right time. So I am just going to continue, because this is what I love,” he noted.

For Trinidad and Tobago-born Modest being crowned Ms Jamaica Bikini Fitness Overall was an amazing feat which she intends to build on as a representative of the black, green and gold.

“I am really excited right now… I can’t even explain it. I am pleased that I won, but all the girls up there worked really hard, and for that everyone is a winner and deserves a trophy at the end of the day.

“I came here fully focused to give it my best and my best was enough, so I am really happy. It was a long 15 weeks of hard dieting and training but it definitely paid off. So I am going to continue training, and representing Jamaica all the way because I love Jamaica and this is my home,” the beaming Modest told the Jamaica Observer.

She earlier copped the top prize for Ms Jamaica Bikini Fitness Tall Class ahead of Spartan Health Club’s Christina Gonzales and Sherea Clarke of Tropical Beach gym.

Jamaica’s Central American and Caribbean Games Women’s Fitness champion Kristen McGregor, of Fit Farm, was also on show and outclassed the competition to take the top prize in that category.

Meanwhile, James of Maximum won the men’s middle weight bodybuilding category ahead of Christopher Chung and Romario Grant of Classic Body Fitness.

The light weight category was won by Damion Mason with St Thomas-based Cecil Beacon and Shaun Davis of Greg Xtreme Fitness awarded second and third, respectively.

Beacon had earlier topped the masters category ahead of Davis and Clayton Powell of Max Fitness, while Spartan Health Club’s John Mark Reid walked away with the bodybuilding juniors category. Grant was placed second ahead of 19-year-old university student Kenyatta Walker of Fit Farm.

Interestingly, Walker entered the championship by virtue of accepting the transformational challenge which he won by shedding close to 100 pounds.

Iberostar Gym’s Kemoy Brown was also among the double winners on the night, winning the men’s physique medium class which led him to the overall Mr Jamaica Physique accolade.

Fit Farm Fitness Club was awarded the best overall gym performance and most represented gym at the championship.

Mr Jamaica Novice Bodybuilding

John-Mark Reid — Spartan Health Club

Romario Grant — Classic Body Fitness

Nicholas Bryan — Express Fitness 24/7

Mr Jamaica Juniors Bodybuilding

John Mark Reid — Spartan Health Club

Romario Grant — Classic Body Fitness

Kenyatta Walker — Fit Farm

Mr Jamaica Masters Bodybuilding

Cecil Beacon — St Thomas

Shaun Davis — Greg Xtreme Fitness

Clayton Powell — Max Fitness

Mr Jamaica Lightweight Bodybuilding

Damion Dawson

Cecile Beacon — St Thomas

Shaun Davis — Greg Xtreme Fitness

Mr Jamaica Middleweight Bodybuilding

Dwight James — Maximum

Christopher Chung

Romario Grant — Classic Body Fitness

Mr Jamaica Heavyweight Bodybuilding

Jermaine Henry — Classic Body Fitness

Andrew Chisholm — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Floyd Mullings

Mr Jamaica Novice Men’s Physique

Adam Senior — Hard End Factory

Weston McDonald — Classic Body Fitness

Alexander Carrington — Level Up 876

Mr Jamaica Muscular Physique

Adam Senior — Hard End Factory

Kadeem Saunders — Express Fitness 24/7

Tareeq Blackwood — Lifestyle Fitness 24/7

Mr Jamaica Men’s Physique Short Class (Under 5ft 7in)

Adrian Kitchin — Body Envy Fitness

Weston McDonald — Classic Body Fitness

Sean Taylor — Express Fitness 24/7

Mr Jamaica Men’s Physique Medium Class (Under 5ft 10in)

Kemoy Brown — Iberostar Gym

Rayon Henry — Classic Body Fitness

Alexander Carrington — Spartan Health Club

Mr Jamaica Men’s Physique Tall Class (Over 5ft 10in)

Ranique Brown — Work that Body Gym

Andre Brown — Express Fitness 24/7

Akeem Hinds

Ms Jamaica Bikini Masters

Nicola Marie — Phoenix Fitness

Ina Daley — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Yvonne Kirlew — Eden Garden Wellness Centre

Ms Jamaica Bikini Fitness Short Class (Under 5ft 5in)

April Marshall — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Deanna Wheatley

Sue Ann Gordon-Pitter — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Ms Jamaica Bikini Fitness Tall Class (Over 5ft 5in)

Avernell Modest — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Christina Gonzalez — Spartan Health Club

Sherea Clarke — Tropical Beach Gym

Ms Jamaica Body Fitness

Kristen McGregor — Fit Farm Fitness

Khristen Forbes — Velocity Wellness Centre

Latoya Campbell — Express Fitness 24/7

Ms Jamaica Women’s Physique

Karen Clarke — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Andrene Powell — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Mr Jamaica Men’s Physique Overall champion

Kemoy Brown — Iberostar Gym

Ms Jamaica Bikini Fitness Overall

Avernell Modest — Fit Farm Fitness Club

Mr Jamaica Bodybuilding Overall

Jermaine Henry — Classic Body Fitness

Transformation Challenge

Kenyatta Walker — Fit Farm