1999 IFBB North Americans (Fitness)
By -jabber


Well, did this show start off with a bang?  Kind of.  First up was Terri Ann
Phippen from North Ontario, Canada, the guest poser in fitness.  Ever heard
of her?  Me neither, but I DID know her, and let me write this caveat.  I
recognized meeting her at the previous Detroit show, the Women's Pro Worlds,
talked at the hotel, then she was at the Expo.  Then later talked to her
after the North Americans, darling, very nice person, sweet wholesome looks
- visually different from the usual fitness competitor, with short red hair.

Why am I saying so many nice things? :-)  Because of the next sentence.
Although her routine was visually interesting, remember she's a Pro (i.e.
supposed to be better than the Amateurs?), she wasn't as high caliber as
most of the competitors.  I really scratched my head over this one...

The Fitness only had two classes (unlike the three the recent NPC classes
have moved to).

Short Fitness:

In 5th place was Natalie Tableau, a cute French Girl with an attractive
body, but definition-wise, it paled to some of the others.  Oh, a word of
explanation.  If I butcher the spelling of some of the women's names
(apologies in advance), it's because the promoter didn't see fit to have a
roster or program printed up.  I guess for $75 VIP Finals tickets and $20
Prejudging, we can't expect that luxury?  Sheesh.  If I saw Mr. Rick Romeo
before or during the show, I would've asked for one (like I did at the
Women's Pro Worlds which he also promoted), but he was nowhere to be found
before the show (once presented a trophy - didn't think that was the
opportune time for me to approach him - LOL!).

In 4th place was Allison Bookless, a thin, kind of plain muscular blonde.
I'd seen her at other shows in very stellar muscular condition.  She was a
bit less impressive here.  In 3rd was Shaunta Teeters, another muscular
blonde.  Overall, I was pleased that the IFBB Amateur Fitness women also
were quite muscular, like the trend in NPC Fitness women of late.

Continuing with this trend, luckily there were no flies in the auditorium,
because my jaw dropped when a blonde-streaked brunette buff and mucho
muscular (compared to her last appearance) Martha Lombardo made her first
appearance.  She didn't need a routine, all she needed to do was stand
around. :-)  The presumably Italian Ms. Lombardo did her routine to the
Latin Miami Sound Machine.  Interesting...

In 1st place, rightfully so, was the blonde Cynthia "Abs" Bridges, always
looking very strong, with a great routine, too.

Tall Fitness:

If you consider over 5'3" tall - LOL!  In 7th place was the only woman, IMO,
who didn't show up in proper shape, Melissa Yonker.  This blonde had an okay
routine, but just totally missed contest condition, noticeably.  In 6th
place was one of my favorites (I "don't" know why), Julie "Drop and Give me
Twenty" Palmer.  Thin and very cute, it amazes me how strong this brunette
is considering how she looks nowhere near as strong as most of the other
women.  She does a military style routine (Lord knows I've seen her routine
enough - never tire of it), where she does many rapidfire variations on
push-ups.

In 5th place was Liz Curtis, a thinnish blonde.  In 4th was Debbie Dukerski,
a somewhat muscular brunette who most of the guys I talked to strangely
liked her a bit better than I did.  In 3rd was a find, indeed.  With short
curly brown hair, Tracy Greenwood was so muscular, she should've been in
bodybuilding.  She had visible veins in her shoulders (not quite as much as
Roseann Keyser though), a great strong routine, albeit it was to the most
overplayed fitness song, "You Can Leave Your Hat On" by that Mad Englishman,
Joe Cocker.  I wonder what he would've thought watching Ms. Greenwood's
ultramuscular body while his song played?

In 2nd place was Peggy Crawford, who I'd also seen a bunch of late.  She had
the best calves of the Fitness women, and showed them off well.  Winning the
tall class was a VERY marketable looking blonde (if she doesn't have a
contract as I write this, she will), Christine Bergeron.  Along with Julie
Palmer, she was the cutest in the show.  

The audience was really divided here for the overall.  The strong, muscular
blonde Cynthia Bridges (also fresh and marketable looking) or the sexy and
muscular (but on a thinner frame) Christine Bergeron.  I'd really like to
see these fitness "posedowns" to be more eventful, but the judges made the
right decision in naming Ms. Bridges overall.

Good classes, IMO.