“They battled as men!”
That was the greatest praise which coach of the Barbados bodybuilding team, Andrew Callender, could find to describe his bronze winning team of Brian Best, Altmark Applewhaite, Brandon Best and Seon Barrow after they returned yesterday from the Youth/Junior and Senior Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
Barbados’ young giants captured team bronze, leaving Callender on a high over their performances.
Best won bronze in the 69 kgs, Applewhaite took bronze in the 62kgs, while 18-year-old Barbados Community College student, Inniss gained gold in the 85kgs in the juniors as well as the 20-years-and-older seniors.
All of the competitors spoke of how nervous they were at the beginning of the competition but then they started to focus on the task which saw them putting aside the jitters to perform above their past efforts.
The fact that the African championships were held in conjunction with the tournaments added to the tension and rapid change-overs.
Callender described the lifters as maturing on the trip and he expressed the desire to see his charges getting greater help to compete internationally.
“The Indians were above us in support and training and it was an eye opener to see the South Africans with more than 120 barbell sets and in Barbados we have just six,” Callender lamented.
Barbados will have a packed agenda next year if the finances allow the lifters to participate.
The Commonwealth Qualifiers will be held in Samoa in May, while the Junior World and the World Youth will also take place all with a view of the top performers making the London Olympics.
