Winfield Bascombe, the godfather of bodybuilding, is dead.
Bascombe, a former president of the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding Federation (BABBF) and a founder member of the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Federation (CACBBF), passed away at his Atlantic Shores, Christ Church home on Monday morning at the age of 81.
He had been ailing for some time with Parkinson’s disease.
Bascombe was a dominant figure in the most successful period in the sport during the 1970s. It was he who was manager/coach of the Barbados team to the World Championships in Montreal, Canada, when Darcy Beckles, Loftus Roach and Bernard Sealy blazed the trail for this country on the international muscle stage.
He also took that revered trio to the World Championships in Mexico in 1978.
Former Mr Universe Earl Maynard told MIDWEEK?SPORT that Bascombe had made an indelible mark on the sport.
“Winfield was a tower of strength and was a pillar in promoting the sport in the early days. He was one of my training partners at Zenith and one whom I had much respect for. He was humble and decent. Bodybuilding has lost a giant,” he said.
Bascombe was also a champion masters competitor. He was part of the 1976 team to the CAC Championships in Puerto Rico that included the late Arthur Standard, Bernard Sealy, Aereal Johnson, Charles Jordan and debutant Patrick Nicholls.
He won the masters title and repeated the feat the following year in Santo Domingo.
In 1957, Bascombe won the Mr Bridgetown title and that same year he lifted the national junior lightweight title, competing in the 148-pound division.
However, he is best known as an administrator and for his efforts to promote the sport and raise funds.
He, Roy Callender and Cleveland Rose of Val Rosa Club helped in forming the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding Federation in 1970. When the CAC?Championships were held in Barbados for the first time at Marine House in 1974, Bascombe was president of the local federation and had the satisfaction of seeing the host country capture the first of several team titles.
That year, he was presented with the Caribbean International Award for his dynamic contribution to the sport here and in the region.
Bascombe, a father of four – Marvin Callender, Simon Rayside, Sean Bascombe, and Shelly Bascombe – also leaves to mourn Linda, his wife of the last 34 years.
A niece, Marlene Bascombe, an integral part of the national netball team in the late 1970s and early 80s, is returning from Florida for the funeral, which is scheduled to take place next week.
