Baton passed to Henman

We now turn our attention to Daniel Henman, the next member of the team to compete, this will be at the BNBF show in St. Albans on July 22nd. Dan did well last year, winning the NPA Midlands junior title but that is history now and I want him to have an even better season this year. He will go up to the 70kg class at this years NPA Midlands show and will compete with Marzio and Amrit, two other team members, on August 19th. I'm looking at all three guys on Saturday, Danny knows that however good he looks I'll cut his diet and he will whine no doubt but he knows that I know best and that his career means as much to me as it does to him. I'm more than 30 years older than all 3 of the lads and I'm no longer competing so all I ask at this stage is that they look as good as I do in this picture taken today. Is that too much too ask?

Time to be controversial

After Sundays UKBFF show at Bedford going so well for Sean I've started to get a lot more requests for personal training, including one from Brentwod which may or may not be related to the fact that I spoke to Jodie Marsh backstage, she and I have the same coach, Eddie Abbew, and it was good to talk to Eddie and Jodie. Under Eddie's guidance Jodie has worked very hard and she deserved her 4th place. However, I have to say that I was not impressed by the bikini class. As far as I’m concerned Sunday’s show represented a new low in the sport. There were several of the country’s top bodybuilders there but the show didn't sell out because of any of them and when a page 3 girl wins a category that has been invented simply to sell more show tickets at a prestigious show like this because she is a page 3 girl it is a slap in the face for those of us that love the sport and have worked so hard for what we have achieved in it. What will they think of next? Best boob job maybe? Smallest bikini bottoms? Why not?! It’s not bodybuilding it’s soft porn, and that's why there is no related picture attached to this blog!

A very proud coach

Today's blog is all about the latest success story that I'm proud to say I am part of.  SEAN BETTS has been a friend for a couple of years but when he said to me last summer that he wanted to compete, I told him what I tell everyone "we'll spend some time working hard together at getting you some muscles and then we'll see if you can do the diet."  If that sounds harsh it's supposed to, because most people can't do any of those, especially the diet.  What can't speak can't lie and as you can see from this picture Sean proved that he could do all of them, and how! Yesterday he placed 4th in his class at the UKBFF Bedford show, behind three of last years British finalists, and this was in his first show! If I was proud that was nothing compared to the pride and love shown by his family and friends who supported him superbly yesterday and throughout his long journey. Well done mate!

Showtime approacheth

So here is the latest news on the 2012 team after I spent some time yesterday with four of the guys who will be competing over the next couple of months.  Dan Henman - ahead of schedule, somehow we have to get 5 kilos off of him but it's hard to see where from, he's already pretty ripped. Amrit Ubhi - looks so much bigger than last year, needs to lose 9 kilos in 9 weeks, I have no doubt that he will do it.  Marzio Barberio - I just call him the beast, biggest legs you will ever see on a 19 year old and definition coming through nicely with 5 weeks to go. Finally, Sean Betts (pictured) has gone from a 103kg gym rat to an 88kg genuine tall classic contender, Sean has impressed me over the last few months and I'm looking forward Sunday 24th June nearly as much as he is!

A question of judging criteria

I have to say that I feel a bit sorry for my good friend Martin Stevenson who competed in the tall class in the WABBA World Championships at the weekend. Martin looked in awesome condition and weighed about 20 kilos more than the winner yet didn't get placed as the judges were looking for a taller, more athletic physique. It has always been my experience that the reverse is true so it's very puzling. Martin is the ultimate professional and a really nice guy, I am so much happier training at his gym in Olney, which is also where this weekend, the next member of the 2012 team, Sean Betts, will have another inspection and be given his final weeks prep instructions for his first show on June 24th. He's worked very hard and we are all looking forward to seeing him on stage!

Loadsa videos!

The new workout video is now on YouTube, here's the link http://youtu.be/dqPv-VYYtfo Also, for anyone that hasn't already seen them the first three parts of the documentary have been on YouTube for a short while now, with the final part to follow soon, here's the links

Part 1 http://youtu.be/rk4buP4-EOU

Part 2 http://youtu.be/eJ261xivaMY

Part 3 http://youtu.be/4X1Mu2CqBH8. 

So far they have all received many positive comments for which I am very grateful. The haters and jealous people that hide behind YouTube nicknames haven't added their negative tuppence worth yet but I'm sure that it will happen in time; after all, that's bodybuilding!

Supplements and budgets

Blogging from the leaning tower of Pisa today! Now, we all use supplements but we all have a budget too, my advice is keep it simple and don’t be taken in by the health food shop hype, like one person I know who would join the Taliban if Holland and Barrett said it was good for you! All I use is whey protein, creatine, glutamine and BCAA’s.  Good quality products bought in large quantities from reputable places is the best and most economical way, here’s one that I would recommend www.onlysupplements.co.uk Remember, my heroes from the 70’s Muhammad Ali and Arnold Schwarzenegger never had access to any of today’s “miracle supplements” and they did alright without them didn’t they?  By the way the new workout video will be uploaded to YouTube tomorrow evening