North Gauteng Bodies on show
Bodies sculptured and toned to titanic proportions were on show at the Gauteng-North Novice Show 2012 held at the Pretoria Hall in Tshwane on the 28th of April. The prestigious bodybuilding competition, open to novice male and female athletes, was the second in a series of competitions that will take place across the country, and was attended by luminaries including Tshwane regional head in the Local and Housing Department, Thabani Mncwango.
The competition, which will culminate with the Provincial Championships later in the year, where the national teams will be chosen, gives both amateur and professional bodybuilders an unparalleled opportunity to be part of these internationally recognized contests.
“This is a step in the right direction for our athletes,” said Body Building SA and IFBB National Executive for Marketing/Public Relations, Wayne Price.
“The events that take place this time of the year are part of our development phase and are very crucial because it is the seed-planting for our future champions. We have in the past year been able to accredit three new athletes as Pro-League Athletes, and that is just purely because of their overseas accomplishments,” Price added.
With a demeanor charged with passion and excitement, winner in the Seniors under 65kg, Lushen Naraunsamy, described bodybuilding as the hardest sporting code saying it is not only about what happens in the gym but also outside. Clutching the statuette in his firm grip, Naraunsamy explained: “Through the journey of getting ready for the competition there was none of the good life, but the moment you step on stage it makes every part of that journey so worth it.”
Invited guest, Thabani Mncwango, applauded the competition adding that the sport needs to be further expanded so more people can participate.
“If you consider the role that sports plays in society, it is about discipline, it’s about focus and certainly fitness. We need to have a nation that is healthy and that is focused on achieving excellence, especially for young people,” he said.
Winner in the Seniors Under 70kg final, Albert Ntamane as well as his runner-up Katlego Moraluki, said support in the sport is imperative as they would not have come this far without it.
“It is quite a struggle because at first you must fight for yourself without much support, also because the sport is not yet known in SA but it is still growing, so we’ll get there slowly but surely, said Ntamane. “By winning here we motivate particularly kids in the townships to be part of such competitions.”
Katlego Moraluki noted: “It takes a whole lot of self-discipline and dedication,” and further added that one the problems faced by young athletes from the townships is that many are not aware of such competitions.
“You have to do it for the love of the sport,” they both concluded, “We’re preparing to go big, so we’re still fighting our way to the top,” said Ntamane.
Adding that it is up to the relevant authorities in sports to ensure continued and sustained support for this platform of sport, Mncwango said he had a lot of hope that bodybuilding will continue to grow and bring people together.
Wayne Price announced that they want to open the stage to far more potential athletes and provide more opportunity for athletes by bringing in “Kids Fit” and the wheelchair division later this year.
“Bodybuilding is just going on the way up,” said Price. — Lebogang Tsele for SportsCentral
Results Gauteng North Novice Show – 28 April 2012
Juniors u/18 Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Naude Peens
2 Luke Thomas
Juniors u/23 Under 75kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Jason du Preez
2 Pieter Naude
3 Makweya Sepoto
4 Khala Erence
5 Philimon Ngubeni
6 Makale Maselo
Juniors u/23 Over 75kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Lark Wentworth
2 Nieun Wentzel
3 Dewald Scheen
4 Brendon Erasmus
5 Heno Jones
6 Jean de Vos
Masters u/80kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Lucas van Vuuren
2 Nicolaas Jacobus
3 Abu Sayeed
Masters o/80kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Cornelius Visgie
Men’s Classic Bodybuilding Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Yassen Yaniav
2 Gavin Sheehan
Ladies Beach Bikini Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Monise Odendaal
2 Elime Heyman
3 Tanya vd Walt
4 Karen Joubert
5 Gitte Rothman
6 Eliose Pagani
Ladies Fitness Bikini Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Claudia Morris
2 Letitia Ryker
3 Hester Conradie
4 Irine du Toit
5 Mariska van Zyl
6 Melanie Jane
Ladies Body Fitness Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Bronwyn Peyten
2 Sandra Joubert
3 Amanda Becker
4 Marilize Scheepers
Ladies Classic Bodybuilding Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Angelique de Very
Up to 65kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Lushen Naraunsamy
2 Thabang Phadi
3 Katlego Mokgoatsotse
4 Molebela Pofhego
Up to 70kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Albert Ntamane
2 Katlego Mogloki
3 Victor Nhlapo
4 Mohammed Asfak
Up to 80kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Duane Opperman
2 Mark Petit
3 Barry Taylor
4 Craig Huxtable
5 Luaan Bruyns
6 Shongwe Davidson
Up to 90kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Beyers Fourie van Rooyen
2 Graham Viviers
3 Derick Kicbon
4 Bongani Qualeni
5 Diran Brits
6 Johannes Mosia
Over 90kg Final Placing
Athlete Name
1 Jurie Vermaak
2 Raymond Goosen
3 Pieter Hurn
4 Kyaogelo Sodi
5 Dale Collins
Overall Winner
Beyers Fourie van Rooyen