REGIS Delorié, reigning Night of the Champions winner, was a par above the rest of the field on Saturday November 2, at the International Conference Centre, Maison du Peuple, flexing his muscles to become Mr Seychelles 2002.

Twenty-six-year-old Delorié, who has retired from the sport on two occasions only to come back to add more silverware to his growing collection, said after Saturday November 2,  night contest that he was very happy to receive the title which he deserves. 

Evergreen Joelen Valentin, who is worth noting was the first local bodybuilder to ever be crowned Mr Indian Ocean in 1994, had to settle for second position while third place went to 28-year-old Jacques-Allain Hoareau, Mr Seychelles Junior in 1991.

As usual, the bodybuilders had to do the seven compulsory poses – front double biceps, front lat spread, back double biceps, side triceps, side chest, back lat spread and abdominal and thighs.

They then performed a free posing demonstration with a piece of music of their choice.

Three competitors – Jacques-Allain Hoareau (75kg), Jean-Claude Juliette (80kg) and Wilfred Payet (+90kg) – who were competing alone in their weight categories, only had to do the free posing exercise and they automatically qualified for the grand final.

The three-man judges' panel had the task of choosing another three finalists among the remaining eight senior bodybuilders and Gerard Marie (70kg), Regis Delorié (85kg) and Joelen Valentin (-90kg) joined Juliette, Payet and Hoareau on stage for the final showdown.

This meant that Wilton Moumou and David Segwick (70kg), Nanon Camille and Jim Clarisse (85kg) and Léon Barbé (-90kg) were eliminated after the first round.

After the final round of the compulsory posing and a number of comparisons between Valentin, Delorié, Hoareau and Payet, the judges' decisions were as follows: Jean-Claude Juliette (sixth), Gerard Marie (fifth), Wilfred Payet (fourth), Jacques-Allain Hoareau (third), Joelen Valentin (second) and Regis Delorié (first).

As prizes, Delorié, with a body weight of 81.66 kg, received R3,000 cash and a cup.

The Junior category was won by young and promising bodybuilder Macfaleine Renaud of Forêt Noire.

The 17-year-old was followed in second position by Richard Quatre while Eddie Racombo took a surprising third place in front of 20-year-old Rodney Marie.

In the Masters category, two former Mr Seychelles – René Youpa and Gabriel Coeur-de-Lion – were involved in a head-to-head contest and in the end it was the latter who triumphed.

Youpa, the first ever Mr Seychelles in 1974, came out second while Roch Valentin was third.

It is to be noted that the Juniors category attracted four participants, while three competitors battled it out in the Masters division.

Twenty-nine-year-old Nanon Camille of Bel Ombre was voted the Most Improved Bodybuilder while the prize for Best Poser went to Jacques-Allain Hoareau.

Compared to other competitions organised this year, there was a good turn-out in terms of participants and spectators for last Saturday's contest and according to Mr Golbert Nicette, chairman of the Seychelles Amateur Bodybuilding Association (SABBA), this is a very good sign for the sport.