Nubret's WABBA Contest In Paris - A Whopping Success!

By Bill Reynolds

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT -- Serge Nubret put on one great show on November 5th at the Palais de la Mutualite in Paris, France. It was sanctioned by Nubret's new World Amateur Bodybuilding Association (WABBA), and 20 countries sent 70 amateur and five outstanding professional contestants.

In addition to your reporter, there were several other Americans present at the show. Ed Jubinville was also there with his daughter. We arrived at the Paris airport virtually at the same time. Ed was the life of the party, judged at the contest and spoke French that kept things going smoothly.

Denie, my colleague in the musclejournalism field, flew in for a few days, as did Lynde Johnson, a recent winner of an East Coast beauty title. Denie was covering the event for several bodybuilding magazines and Lynde presented a trophy at the show.

The night before the competition, the Perrier Water Organization hosted a dinner for all the contestants and officials. It was held in honor of Steve Reeves, the great Hercules film star, who was present with his wife Aline. Steve looked healthy, fit and a decade less than his age of 52. During the dinner he was presented with a Greek statue by Andreas Zapatinas, WABBA president for Greece. Later Nubret and Paco Arce of Spain made a gift of a magnificent Sandow statuette, which Reeves was overjoyed to receive. In a brief speech he mentioned that he had admired that particular statuette for more than 20 years. (He got such a statuette of Sandow for his victory in London back in 1950 when he won the Mr. Universe title--Editor)

The evening dinner was hosted by Yves Mourousi, a French talk show host of a stature in France equal to that of Johnny Carson in America. This touch was symptomatic of the classy way Nubret conducted the entire show. Also present was Oscar Heidenstam, who is now the overall WABBA president.

At 9:00 a.m. the next morning the prejudging began in an anteroom at the theater where the contest was to be held. I could not believe how well-attended the prejudging was or how enthusiastic the French fans could be. Fully 2500 fans jammed into the anteroom, and when a favorite contestant--such as the Frenchman Gerard Buinoud (this month's coverman) or Sergio Oliva--came on stage, their applause was nigh on to deafening.

Nubret's wife, Jacqueline, emceed part of the prejudging, during which I was impressed by the smoothness with which everything was run. The prejudging panel was truly international, and the selection process went on for three solid hours. Most of the men in the contest were unfamiliar names to me, but they were, nonetheless, of high caliber.

The WABBA Mr. World public presentation began at 1:00 p.m., and it was jammed with spectators. Not an empty seat left in the house. From shows I've attended in the past, I would estimate the attendance to have been in the 3500 to 4000 range.

Beginning with the short class amateurs, I was quite impressed by the eventual winner, Wilfred Sylvester of St. Lucia in the West Indies. He was proportionate and dense, and his muscles showed the mature fullness that can only be attained after many hard and long years of training. Except for his short stature, he would receive the recognition he deserves as one of the world's greats. There was a gigantic battle for second between Gerard Buinoud of France, who placed in the top three at the NABBA Universe in recent years, and Terry Phillips of Britain, who won the short class this year at the NABBA Universe. Buinoud edged Phillips out by virtue of fine proportions and ripped-to-the-hilt muscularity. Phillips in third place looked very hard, but lacked the muscle separation of Buinoud. Salvator Ruiz of Spain notched a fourth place trophy with his outstanding leg and abdominal development. With a better back he would be outstanding. Steve Chabonet, also from Spain, was fifth and Harold Dickinson of England sixth.

The medium class featured a match between Dave Johns and the absolutely fantastic Turk, Ahmet Enünlü. Despite Johns' huge size, flawless proportions and experienced posing, Dave was able to draw only one first-place vote from the nine-man judging panel. Enünlü had the rest. The Turk was ripped to shreds, as big as Johns where it counted, and with a very small waist and hips. He just had it all. Eddie McDonough, a two-time--and current--Mr. Britain, settled comfortably into third. At 43, he is in terrific shape. Janko Rudman of Sweden, a former Mr. Europe, took fourth, with Jules Jupiter of France fifth and Peter Fules of Germany sixth.

I wasn't impressed with the tall class as with the other two, although winner Bill Richardson has a fine physique. His neck was so big as to almost appear deformed. Gabin Lambert, who is trained by Serge Nubret, was second and displayed exceptional thigh development. Unfortunately Arthur Standard of Barbados, who placed third, was overly fatigued by his flight and looked far below the condition he displayed 10 days later when he won the WABBA Mr. International title in Holland. Standard's arms are well over 20 inches. John Wood, a real comer from England's Channel Islands was fourth, with Ken Bradshaw of Trinidad fifth and Alwyn Djaden of Holland sixth.

In the final analysis, Ahmet Enünlü was a popular overall winner, as well as the Best Poser award winner. David Johns was the Most Muscular Man winner, and deservedly so.

I was quite surprised to see Sergio Oliva competing in the professional show, and after several days in bed with a 103-degree fever, things seemed stacked against him. Sergio admitted to me that he wasn't in top shape, but three weeks later, after his illness, he was just incredible. As it was at Paris, however, he had a very tough fight on his hands. His huge size and fine proportions eventually prevailed, though. I have a great deal of admiration for Oliva's courageous decision to compete despite his illness.

Tony Emmott, whom I had last met at a Mr. World a year ago in New York City, finished in second. He was improved over New York, although one of the English fellows told me that Tony was a shade down from his NABBA win. If so, he must have been something else in London. Emmott had the best back in the show. As a matter of fact, all five of the professional contestants had outstanding back development.

Bill Grant of Gold's Gym in Santa Monica wedged into third and could have easily been second or first. He is very muscular at 188 pounds bodyweight and has an incredible pair of arms. Bill and I flew over from LA on the same plane and ended up roommates in Paris. Throughout that time he maintained a fantastic sense of humor, even when I was in the head barfing up my guts after drinking two liters of French red wine.

Roy Duval, a former NABBA Mr. Universe from England, took fourth and could also have been higher. Actually all four of the top men could have won the title. In my opinion they were quite closely matched. Duval's fine proportions most impressed me. His arms were once his strong point, but now he simply doesn't have a weakness, unless it's the lack of such overwhelming size as was displayed by the top three. Roy was the best conditioned of the professionals.

Paul Wynter, originally from the West Indies and now living in England, was yet another NABBA Mr. Universe winner (twice, I think). After placing fifth, he later told me that this was his swan song. At 43, he doesn't have the motivation to train as hard as he used to in preparation for contests.

In conclusion, this was one of the best shows I've seen, and for a maiden effort it was particularly remarkable. After it was over, the American contingent went to dinner together. About midnight Grant, Johns and Paul Wynter posed for the restaurant's enthusiastic staff. Ed Jubinville gave a sample of his famous muscle control ability. All I did was drink too much French red wine...and you know what can happen...and did!

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- In the short class the winner and runners-up were, from left: Gerard Buinoud (France), 2nd; Wilfred Sylvester (St Lucia), 1st, and Terry Phillips (England), 3rd;

- The medium class winner and runners-up were from left: Dave Johns (USA), 2nd; Ahmet Enünlü (Turkey), 1st, and Eddie McDonough (England), 3rd.

- In the tall class the winners and runners-up were, from left: Gabin Lambert (France), 2nd; Bill Richardson (England), 1st, and Arthur Standard (Barbados), 3rd;

- Wilfred Sylvester, short class winner.

- Ahmet Enünlü, the Overall winner.

- Sergio Oliva - Professional champion.

- Tony Emmott, 2nd in the professionals.

- Bill Grant was 3rd in the pros.

- Salvator Ruiz, 4th in the short class.

- Parade of the Nations, a gala ceremonial opening usually held before the event. In this case two of the closest rivals are put together - Ahmet Enünlü of Turkey, and Dave Johns, USA. They finished first and second.