THE BATTLE OF THE BEST BUILT MEN IN THE UNIVERSE
By OSCAR HEIDENSTAM
Secretary, NABBA
The MR. UNIVERSE contest, sponsored by the National Amateur Bodybuilder's Association, brings together the most phenomenal physiques the world has ever seen!
THE STATELY VICTORIA PALACE THEATER in London was bursting at the seams as 79 physique champions from 19 different countries matched muscle for muscle before a standing room only audience. The great affair had been sold out three months in advance!
This is the contest that has been won over the years by such famous men of muscle as John Grimek, Steve Reeves, Reg Park, Jack Delinger, Leo Robert, Ray Shaeffer, Enrico Tomas, Bill Pearl, Mickey Hargitay, Bruce Randall, Ray Routledge, Earl Clark and Joe Abbenda -- all winners and all time greats in the universe of physical perfection.
This is the contest where Dick Dubois, Ron Lacey, Lloyd Lerille and Clarence Ross fought to win the crown of muscledom -- the NABBA Mr. Universe title. The names of the men who have paraded on the platform of this great contest read like the roster of the world's best.
There is a casualness about the NABBA Mr. Universe contest that is typically British yet it is efficiently and expertly run. The contestants are put at ease, there seems to be no tension in spite of the fact that there were fifteen judges.
The judges do not work on the point system but rate each man first, second, third, etc. Contestants are called out in groups of four and closely inspected by the judges. Most of the judging was in relaxed poses but occasionally, to settle a question, the judges would ask a man to assume a certain pose if they thought it necessary in rating the man. Their tabulations were handed to three other officials who acted as accountants.
The entry from USA was the biggest ever for the two contests both quite separate. For those who are not in the picture let me say that both amateurs and professionals pay their own expenses or get the help of a bodybuilding organization to sponsor them, that they compete only for a trophy. The only thing they get is three nights bed and breakfast paid for them. There are no "incentives" no commercial ties, no free holidays to Miami. We sell no products, courses or anything at all.
The American contingent comprised: Joe Abbenda (last year's amateur winner and last year's Mr. America), Vern Weaver (current Mr. America) (both sponsored by Bob Hoffman) Tom Sansone (former Mr. America), Earl Clark (former amateur Universe winner), Ronald Sterlington (with the US Forces in Europe making his second visit), John Tristram, and Peter Ganios.
South Africa whose competitors had to travel 10,000 miles sent five representatives including the current Mr. Republic of S. Africa, Amateur and Professional winners. One Australian and the current Mr. Australia will take three years to repay the money he borrowed for his fare, such is the importance of the genuine PC men to enter the NABBA Universe.
There are three height classes in the amateur contest and two in the professional.
Amateur Class 3 -- Up to and including 5 ft. 6 ins., eighteen entries and a win for Belgium via a beautifully built Pierre Vandensteen, who repeated his 1961 victory in this class. Runner-up for the second year running was Ronald Sterlington USA, who at his height must have the finest upper body in the world but who is a bit lacking on legs; third was current Mr. Britain Ted Gutteridge; fourth and five times a class winner in the Mr. S. Africa contest, Eddie Silva; fifth and current Mr. Australia, Victor Vella and sixth Hubert Plum and another Belgian.
Amateur Class 2 -- Up to and including 5 ft. 9 ins., sixteen in this class and a struggle between sensational Rogelio Montenegro a very defined Mr. Argentine winner; John Tristram, USA; and John Hewlett, the massive Englishman and four times a previous winner of this class. This was really the most controversial of all classes and the three main contestants of widely differing types. It went in the order I have given it, the Argentine winning, John Tristram second and Hewlett delegated to third, his lowest placing ever. Fourth was England's Roy Perrott, third in our Mr. Britain contest and after eight years training making a well earned top grading. Fifth was Beresford Morris of Jamaica and sixth, the Hungarian Gabor Toth.
Amateur Class 1 -- Over 5 ft. 9 ins., this class was really something 23 in all and some really fantastic physiques. It also brought together two Mr. America winners, Vern Weaver, the current Mr. America and Tom Sansone, to us one of the greatest recent Mr. America winners. But they had to contend with Adrian Heryet of England, three times runner-up in this class; our 21 year old Britain runner-up Paul Nash; Tommy Williams, current Mr. Republic of S. Africa; Christopher Forde, current Mr. West Indies; Gernulf Garbe, current Mr. Germany and a whole crowd of other title holders, not to forget Peter Ganios of USA.
Tom Sansone was in superb condition and left nothing to chance, he really was a worthy winner not only of this class but the overall title. Vern Weaver took second place in this class, we felt that perhaps since the very recent Mr. America contest he had lost a bit of his edge. Adrian Heryet was third, Tommy Williams fourth, Paul Nash fifth and Christopher Forde sixth.
The Professionals
Divided into classes up to and including 5 ft. 8 ins. and over 5 ft. 8 ins. total entry was twenty.
Class 1
Three fantastic physiques battled this out and it took a long time to pick the winner. Joe Abbenda, USA; Serge Nubret, France and Earl Maynard, Barbados. I have never seen three better men in this class. It went in that order but in many a year anyone of them would have been more than a worthy winner. Fourth was Jannie Graaf, S. Africa and fifth the great personality Mickey Hargitay. No praise is too much for this modest, unspoiled and popular sportsman.
Class 2
A clear win for Guadeloupe's Yvres Permal at his third try with British Vincent Gilles second and Leopold Merc, Austria, third. A great setback for Earl Clark who had to take a fourth place but he seemed overweight this year after being too drawn the year before.
The panel of fifteen judges took seven hours to pick the winners, they included John Terpak, USA, representing Bob Hoffman.
We are grateful to Bob and all our friends for supporting us, and we do our best to stage physique contests in the best interests of PC.
I cannot feel but certain that our fifteenth Universe was our greatest ever!
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- Would you like the job of judging a contest as tough as this one? Fifty-nine contestants from 19 countries gather for the pre-judging at the National Amateur Body Building Association's 1963 Mr. Universe contest held at Victoria Palace Theater in London, England. Recognize any of your favorite physique champions? Can you pick out the winner? (Photo by Arax)
- Here are the men in the up to 5' 9" class in the amateur division. They came from Malaya, Australia, Barbados and USA. American entrant here is John Tristram, No. 41. Man on right is Gabor Toth of Hungary. In center is Raymond Everlet of France (52) and next to him is Dave Stroud and Ray Garnett of England. (Photo by T. G. Temperley)
- Finalists in amateur division. Front row, L. to R: Ron Sterlington, USA; John Tristram, USA; Rogelio Montenegro, Argentina; Serge Nubret, France and Pierre Vandensteen, Belgium. On platform in back are Vern Weaver and Joe Abbenda, USA; Tom Sansone, Canada and John Hewlett of England. Heaviest man in the meet was Joe Abbenda at 226 pounds. (Photo by Arax)
- Narrowing down the field. L. to R: Vern Weaver, USA; Tom Sansone, Canada; Ron Sterlington, USAF and John Tristram, USA. Have you picked your winner? Twenty-two entrants had chest measurements of 50" or over! Tallest man was Mickey Hargitay of USA at 6' 2" and the oldest man was Jannie Graaf of S. Africa, 36 years old. (Photo by Paul Hawker)
- Grand winner of the amateur division of the 1963 Mr. Universe contest was magnificently muscled Tom Sansone of Canada. Tom won Mr. America title in 1958. (Photo by Paul Hawker)
- Left: Ron Sterlington, USAF, placed 2nd in the 5' 6" class. Fans say he had the most muscular upper body of all contestants. Ron is stationed in Germany. (Photo by T. G. Temperley)
- Right: Winner of the 5' 6" class and formerly Mr. Belgium was aesthetic Pierre Vandensteen. Pierre won this class back in '61 and is a great favorite in Europe. (Photo by Arax)
- Below: Know any of the men in the professional class? L. to R: Umberto Devetak, Italy; Serge Nubret, France; Joe Abbenda, USA; Jannie Graaf, S. Africa; Mickey Hargitay, USA and Earl Maynard, Barbados. Abbenda won. (Photo by Arax)
- Above: The sensational Argentinian, Rogelio Montenegro. Winner of the 5' 9" class, his balanced posing brought great cheers. (Photo by Arax)
- Oscar Heidenstam, author and Secretary of NABBA, and John Terpak, MD representative and official, are flanked by the muscles of Tom Sansone and Joe Abbenda. (Photo by Arax)