IFBB Women's Pro World (Amateurs) By Jabber Actually this title is a misnomer, the amateur show, to which I uncharacteristically did not go to the prejudging (there needs to be a "little" rest for the wicked - me :-)), was called the NPC Ultimate Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships. Actually when I ordered tickets, this wasn't explained well, otherwise I may have gone, but definitely needed a break. Unlike the Pro's (when I asked Rick Romeo, the contest promoter, for an official scoresheet to get everyone's proper name spelling), for the Amateurs they didn't provide a roster of the names, so let me apologize in advance if I botch up the spelling of any Amateur's names. The MC for the Amateurs, Ron Huling (they had 3 MC's! Weird) kept explaining stuffs to the audience in case they had newbies to bodybuilding in the audience, but he humorously botched things by calling the short class in fitness the lightweights. In the short fitness, in 3rd place was a relatively tall-looking thin brunette named Sandra Roth. I called her "basketball" girl, as in her routine, she brought out a basketball, and as part of her routine did some cute and rather nifty dribbling demonstrations. I'm not an WNBA fan, but this was pretty neat. Of note, she had (probably her dad) a VERY exuberant male in the audience yelling out "Sandra! Way to go Sandra!" Made me smile, I'm liking this homesy folksy down-to earth Midwest attitude shown here (Sandra and all short fitness competitors were from nearby Ohio). In 2nd place was Ann Marie Kramer, and in 1st was my pick, Jenny Masey. So far, judging was spot-on, IMO. Would that change? Remember, I'm not usually good at fitness judging (something about forgetting their routines...). In the tall fitness, the judging got wacky quickly. In 5th place was Melissa Youngford, in 4th was a hometown girl (from Novi, MI) who I really liked, the thickish redhead, Adrienne Watkins. I found her routine way too short as she was great to watch on-stage. In 3rd place was the "veteran" of this group, Julie Palmer, who I'd seen get 3rd at the Jr. USA a couple months back in Birmingham, AL. As I said before, Julie is an EXCEPTIONALLY attractive tall and thin brunette. I am just flabbergasted at how strong she seems in her routine, doing an assortment of rapid-fire non-stop push-ups. As you can tell, I like either the thick strong-looking females in fitness, or the incredible strength moves. In 2nd place was my favorite (and who I thought should've won), a thick brunette who probably could've entered the bodybuilding competition, Debbie Dukerski. Plus she had an entertaining, inventive, and polished routine, unexpected at this level of show. In 1st place was Carrie Fickle (could barely understand the MC), who also was in the Jr. USA in Birmingham. Then the judges miraculously and quickly rectified their tall botching of the placings by giving the overall to Jenny Masey. Che' Swagger, who "just" won the Jr. Nationals fitness tall and overall in San Antonio a scant week ago was the guest poser (I WISH these fitness women would pose - should be called guest performer). It was interesting to note that she was a bit thicker looking than last week, showing that fitness women must also have an off-season look - although not as striking of a difference as the female bodybuilders. In the lightweight bodybuilding (up to 118 lbs.), a tall-looking brunette named Debra Garski got 2nd, and a hometown girl (from Novi, MI), Julie Dunbar, a short-looking blonde (big height differential) got 1st. So far so good (judging-wise). In the middleweight bodybuilding (up to 132 1/2 lbs.), Brenda Rodgers got 3rd. I agreed with this placing, this blonde basically had good abs but that's about it. Luckily she showed them a lot. :-) In 2nd place was an unassuming Diane Bumford from North Carolina. Although nothing stood out, I thought she should've won this class as she had a fairly polished overall physique. Strangely, I noticed (good thing before the -jabber booed :-) ) I don't think Michigan audiences boo to signify to the judges their displeasure at the placings. I'd asked a couple other folks and they don't recall booing in Michigan either. And I'd hate for a competitor to think I was booing her, so I gave my tonsils a rest. :-) In 1st was a very flashy Colette Nelson, from the equally flashy New York City. She definitely had a confident routine, had good width, and "may" have a promising future, but I found her condition lacking and was glad when she was stomped upon for the overall... In the heavyweight bodybuilding we had Sandy Darling in 2nd place, a cute tall brunette. How tall you say? Well, I'm not exactly sure but "boy" did she look tall when I first saw her walk into the Expo (when I was leaving). Later I did the -jabber gauge by standing near her (she was constantly talking to family members while milling around); I'd guess about 6'1" to my 6'4". Although I liked Sandy, the winner Annabeth Valabuck (sp? couldn't understand the MC) was definitely better, a nicely defined, again if unassuming-looking blonde. For the overall, I'd noticed the audience undercurrent thinking the flamboyant middleweight New Yorker would take it. I calmly said to others within earshot, nope, the Heavyweight's gonna get it. Indeed the judges AGAIN rectified a botched judging by giving the overall to the right one, Annabeth Valabuck.