By Emmerson Campbell
Dexter ‘Bushman’ Garnett, whose brainchild is Guyana’s most popular bodybuilding event, the Hugh Ross Classic (HRC), is proud of the way the contest has grown.
Garnett, yesterday, spoke of the commencement of the HRC in honour of Guyana’s world-renowned bodybuilder and 2010 Mr. Universe Masters champion Hugh Ross.
“Well one day back in 2007, I was a member of Studio 2000 (now BodyMaxx gym) and while working out Eustace Abraham, aka `Robo Cop’, passed in the gym looking all big and chunky.
“I had met Mr. Ross about a month prior to this encounter and `Robo’ questioned my ability to full the Cultural Centre. That is when the HRC came to mind and immediately after training I telephoned Mr. Ross,” said Garnett.
Garnett added: “I asked his permission to hold an event in his honour and he gave me the go ahead,” Garnett told Stabroek Sport in the exclusive.
“I began discussions with Andre Ponai and Leroy George, who liked the idea about hosting the show. Mr. Ross was informed of the details from the meeting which resulted in the official launching of the HRC in 2008 which turned out to be the biggest bodybuilding show staged in Guyana since the cultural centre was packed to capacity,” he added.
Garnett, 43, is somewhat of a health freak and has a physique most men his age would envy. Last year Garnett entered the Novices bodybuilding competition and wrote his name in the record books by stepping on stage for the first time at age 42, winning both the Masters and the Heavyweight divisions.
The father of six revealed that although he is never going to be competing again, his goal is to increase awareness of the benefits of the sport of bodybuilding and to encourage persons to take up the sport.
This year’s HRC which will be held on July 28 at the National Culture Centre promises to be of a higher standard than the previous classics as only the crème-de-la-crème of Guyana’s musclemen and women will be on stage.
At the media launching last month Ross indicated that there will be sub-meets around Guyana and only the top bodybuilders from these sub-meets will be on stage come July 28.
The musclemen will be placed in the four standard categories, namely: bantamweight, lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight and a category for women called the female figure category.
Ross said that the female figure category will based more on being toned with proper symmetry as opposed to being ripped with muscles.
There will also be a male and a female guest poser at the event.
The inaugural HRC was held in 2008, while the second one was held in 2010. Lindener Mark ‘Uno’ Perry was 2008’s overall winner, while Royston Booker was 2010’s overall winner. Sprint queen Alisha Fortune was the top female bodybuilder in 2008 and 2010.
