Body Building: MR Seychelles 2009-All set for this year’s battle |09 October 2009

All is set for this year’s contest, and all questions will be answered tomorrow night at the International Conference Centre.

With 2006 winner Fabien Antat making a comeback, plus newcomer Ziad Al Adou Mekdachi – who won both local competitions organised this year – tomorrow’s show will surely keep the spectators on the edge of their seats.
The competition will gather 15 posers – 11 seniors, 2 juniors and 2 masters.

Mekdachi said he will be all out to clinch the title, which he described as the most prestigious locally.
He added that he has been training very hard throughout the season and has been working on mistakes committed during the previous two competitions he took part in.

“Special effort and an additional training programme and routines were also included in my preparation, as this competition is very important,” he added.

At 50 years old, veteran Joelan Valentin ¬– who still competes in the senior category – will be the most decorated poser in tomorrow’s line-up.

He has won the title on three occasions – 1993, 1994 and 2001 – and was the runner-up at the Mr Indian Ocean contest in 1993 before clinching the title in 1994. He was also the second-place finisher at the 2002 Commonwealth competition in the 90kg class, in 2002.

Valentin said age does not count in bodybuilding and he will always compete against younger posers.

Chairman of the Seychelles Amateur Body Building Association (Sabba) Mohan Chetty promised the fans that Mr Seychelles 2009 will be the best competition ever organised in terms of the quality of athletes. He said tickets have been booked at district level, which shows that members of the public are really looking forward to the contest.

Winners of tomorrow’s contest will represent the country at the Mr Universe contest, which will take place in Dubai from November 6-10, and also at the Mr Africa tournament in Mauritius from November 26-30.

A group of eight judges have been selected, and Sabba secretary Helga Hoareau said five of them will be chosen for the contest through a draw on Saturday before the start. This, she said, will help to bring impartiality in the judging.

They are Yvon Mathiot, Philip Moustache, Robert Rose, Derrick Sauzier, Henry Naiken, Jean-Pierre Duval, Giovanna Rousseau and Patrick Comettant.

Other than Camille, Antat, Valentin and Mekdachi, in tomorrow’s line-up are Jacques-Alain Hoareau, Jim Clarisse, Antoine Rachel, Jean-Claude Juliette, Rodney Henriette, Cyril Rabat, Roland Nioles (senior) Lynell Hoareau, Mathieu Suzette (juniors) Gabriel Coeur de Lion and Pierre Servina (masters).

The competition will be categorised, but compared to the International Federation of Bodybuilders’ rules of nine categories, Mr Seychelles 2009 will be judged in only seven due to a lack of athletes in some of the weights.

The categories are under 65kg, under 70kg, under 75kg, under 80kg, under 85kg, under 90kg, under 100kg and over 100kg.
All winners will receive cash prizes as well as medals and trophies.

Tickets for the competition cost R50 for adults and R25 for children under 12 years.
 
 R. D.