DOGLEY ... Mr Seychelles Junior 2003

FABIEN Antat did not bring the broom to the International Conference Centre, Maison du Peuple,  Friday  night (October 27)  but still managed to make a clean sweep of the titles this year in one of the best bodybuilding contests ever held here.

Antat, whose sculpted body and good posing earned him high marks, added the Mr Seychelles 2003 crown to the President's Cup and Mr Regatta titles he had already claimed earlier this year.

With Mr Seychelles 2002 Regis Delorié, who had promised to "be back to defend his title", pushing Antat all the way, it was in almost everyone's mind that one of the two would be the winner.

Amongst the crowd, the balance somehow tilted Delorié's way as the 27-year-old, who missed the first two competitions organised this year by the Seychelles Amateur Bodybuilding Association (Sabba), also came up with a good display and a sculpted body.

By the time the final verdict was announced, the five-man judges panel of Guy Agricole, Yvon Mathiot, Cyril Payette, Golbert Nicette and Derrick Sauzier, who had asked the finalists to flex their muscles during a number of comparisons, gave victory to Antat on a 4-1 score.

In third position was the ever-improving Nano Camille.

The three bodybuilders, with well-developed biceps and triceps, broad shoulders, built legs, highly developed thighs and calves, performed some unique posing routines in the two-minute free-posing to bring out different contours to catch the eyes of the judges and earn extra points.

Antat, Delorié and Camille, who won R5,000 , R3,000 and R2,000 in cash, a cup and a medal respectively, will represent Seychelles in the Mr Universe competition to be held in India from November 6 to 10.

It is worth noting that Seychellois bodybuilders will be competing in the Mr Universe contest for the first time.

They were also presented with their air tickets to India by Jason Charles of Air Seychelles, the sponsors.

"I came here today (Friday) in search of qualification for the Mr Universe contest. Despite being hampered by a back injury, I trained hard and made a lot of sacrifices. I believe it is those sacrifices that have won me the title in one of the toughest and highest level bodybuilding contests here. I will be going to India with the hope a winning something for Seychelles," said Antat, whose Mr Seychelles 2003 title is his second after the first claimed in 2000.

It is to note that the former swimmer, who took up bodybuilding in 1997, was the 90-kg category champion of the All-African Bodybuilding Championship in 2001.

The 15 junior and senior bodybuilders had to do the free-posing and relaxed pose where they displayed the muscularity in their body from the front, left side, back and right side as well as the seven compulsory poses – front double biceps, front lat spread, side chest, back double biceps, back lat spread, side triceps and abdominal and thighs.

The other fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh positions were occupied by 29-year-old Jacques-Allain Hoareau (Mr Seychelles Junior in 1991 and third overall last year), 43-year-old Joelen Valentin (runner-up last year and the first local bodybuilder to ever be crowned Mr Indian Ocean in 1994), Andrew Siméon and David Sedgwick.

David Sedgwick (-65kg), Andrew Siméon (-70kg), Jacques-Allain Hoareau (-75kg), Regis Delorié (-90kg) and Nano Camille (+90kg), who competed alone in their weight categories, only had to do the free posing exercise and automatically qualified for the grand final.

The five-man judges' panel had the task of choosing another two finalists among the remaining five senior bodybuilders and Joelen Valentin (-80kg) and Fabien Antat (85kg) joined the other five on stage for the final showdown.

This meant that Jim Clarisse, Jean-Claude Juliette (-80kg), and Léon Barbé (-85kg) were eliminated after the first round.

This year's Mr Seychelles Junior title was won by young and promising bodybuilder Derrick Dogley.

With four years experience in the sport, Dogley, who won the Novice competition earlier this year, was a cut above his opponents, even last year's winner McFarlene Renaud.

"Although I did not expect it, this title represents a lot of hard work. I believe that I will have to train harder now that I will be competing with the seniors next year," said 18-year-old Dogley.

Renaud settled for the runner-up spot, while Eddie Racombo was third and Terrence Laurence fourth.

In the Masters category, René Youpa, the first ever Mr Seychelles in 1974, had no opponent and thus won automatically.