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Sweeter results when bodybuilders go natural, says pro

* Featured in the Brampton News

By Linda Erskine

There are no shortcuts to success for natural pro bodybuilder Ian Walling and he aims to inspire that in other athletes as they strive to new athletic heights, naturally.

Walling will host the Ian Walling-FAME Centrals-Natural Bodybuilding Show in Brampton on April 12, bringing athletes to the stage of the Lester B. Pearson Theatre. It’s not Walling’s first hosting endeavour and probably not his last. 

Walling can’t wait for GTA athletes to hit the stage in the natural bodybuilding (male and female), figure (female), muscle model (male and female) and bikini (female) categories. There’s even a category for the physically challenged. He says it will prove that the industry is changing and that the steroid stereotype the industry has endured is on its way out.

The World Natural Sports Organization (WNSO) is a prime reason the industry is changing, says Walling. Since 1997, one of the largest drug-free fitness organizations in the world has welcomed over 3,000 competitors to FAME World Tour event stages across Canada, the U.S. and internationally to compete in Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Fitness Model, Muscle Model and Swimsuit Model search categories.

WNSO welcomes any athlete who chooses to take the higher road when it comes to training and nutrition, with no anabolic steroids to shortcut the journey, says Walling.

Athletes competing in the FAME Centrals-All-Natural Bodybuilding Show will go through a physique-screening process to assess and determine the athlete’s suitability to compete in his or her registered events. “We have realized that, passing polygraph examination or urinalysis test is possible despite the current or past use of banned substances. In our continuing efforts to ensure a fair and level playing field for all athletes, we have instituted the Physique Screening Panel,” Walling explains.

For Walling, it was a no-brainer: no shortcuts and no drugs, just a lot of hard work in the gym, planning meals and maintaining a positive attitude. In an industry with the steroid stereotype so engrained in the culture, it was not an easy feat to maintain that positivity.

“A lot of people told me what I could not do. I was stubborn and shot them down by trying even harder,” says Walling, whose efforts were well-rewarded with title after title, the latest being recognized as FAME’s first natural pro bodybuilder.

Walling has received a lot of accolades since his first foray into the bodybuilding scene in 1984, a task he took up to help him with his other sports interests of hockey, soccer and martial arts. “The training and the nutrition made me stronger and more agile. It felt like it was the right thing to do for my body and my sports,” he says.

There is no doubt that the journey was long, and it had many lessons learned along the way to the Mr. Natural Universe title in 1998. And then there were the naysayers: the people who said he couldn’t achieve what he wanted without drugs, that it was too much work and he wouldn’t see the results.

In each award and title he received, Walling made them eat their words, in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005. He says the titles mean more because he attained them naturally (see sidebar of accomplishments).

“Kids starting out in bodybuilding want it tomorrow. There is no quick fix. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of learning about all aspects of fitness and nutrition,” says Walling, as well as about your own mindset.  “You have to be mentally and emotionally strong, especially when there are negative people and situations to influence you. My greatest achievements were ten-fold because I attained them naturally.”

He credits the WNSO for its dedication in promoting the natural way to a new school of athletes. “The WNSO has done a lot for natural bodybuilding. There was a lack of sponsors when I was competing,” he says, but adds that it’s not the case now. “Bodybuilders of today are famous, they’re stars.

Now he works to inspire the same dedication and focus in others, proof soon to be apparent on the FAME stage on April 12.

“It’s my way of giving back to the sport and promoting the idea of bodybuilding without drugs.

“It means so much to me to be able to stand on stage with these athletes and present them with their plaques. I hope it means more to them than just another plaque – pressed wood and some words engraved on a plate. It’s my honour to recognize these athletes,” says Walling.

Ian Walling’s FAME Centrals-Natural Bodybuilding Show will take place on April 12, from nine a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Lester B. Pearson Theatre in Brampton. Tickets are $15 for daytime judging (nine a.m. start) or $40 for VIP, and $25 for night-time judging (seven p.m. start) or $40 for VIP. Add $5 at the door.

Register to Compete                      Get Tickets Now

Walling Wall of Fame

2005 FAME World Championship, Pro Muscle Class - 2nd Place
2002 Musclemania World Championship, Pro Class - 1st Place
2001 Musclemania World Championship, Pro Class - 3rd Place
2001 Musclemania Super Bodies Championship, Pro Class - 4th Place
2000 Musclemania World Championship, Pro Class - 5th Place
2000 WNSO World Championship, Pro Class - Overall Winner
2000 IFBB Canadian Naturals - 2nd Place
1999 MuscleMania Worlds, Pro Class - 5th Place
1999 WNSO World Championship - 1st Place
1999 IFBB Canadian Naturals - 2nd Place
1999 Musclemania Canada - Overall Winner
1999 IFBB Ontario Naturals - Overall Winner

1998 Mr. Natural Universe

1998 Natural Olympia, Gold Medalist

BIKINI MODEL SEARCH

Tara Newbigging - 1st **New FAME Pro!

Anansa Russell - 2nd

Anna Davie - 3rd

Jocelyn Bessette - 4th

Nina Moncrief - 5th

Catherine Stilo - 6th

Stacey Raymond - 7th

Jill Ings-Robillard - 8th

Bonnie Alford - 9th

MUSCLE MODEL SEARCH - FEMALE:

Emma Reynolds - 1st ** New FAME Pro!

Sheri Benayon - 2nd

Jeanne Regnier - 3rd

MUSCLE MODEL SEARCH - MALE:

LeRoy Anthony Williams - 1st **New FAME Pro

Gerry Bossy - 2nd

Marlon Daley - 3rd

Ryan Lyn - 4th

Justin Bauman - 5th

Brian Gilber - 6th

Glenn Haley - 7th

BODYBUILDING - FEMALE:

Open:

Kimberly Johnston - 1st
*** See Kimberly’s newspaper feature here.

Betty Carroll - 2nd

Nicole Ough - 3rd

Andrea Heffernan - 4th

Aimee Eyden - 5th

Masters:

Betty Carroll - 1st *** New FAME Pro

Kimberly Johnston - 2nd

Nicole Ough - 3rd

PLACINGS BY LOCATION:

Cobourg, ON - 10                    
Toronto, ON - 4
Brampton, ON - 2

Guelph, ON - 2

Ottawa, ON - 2

Woodbridge, ON - 2
Oleans, New York - 2

Gatineau, QC - 2

Etobicoke, ON - 1

Brantford, ON - 1

Oshawa, ON - 1

Caledon, ON - 1

Belle River, ON - 1

Mississauga, ON - 1

Ian Walling FAME Centrals – April 12th 2008 - Event Recap

WNSO's first ever Pro Bodybuilder, Ian Walling, welcomed the packed Lester B Pearson Theater in Brampton for the 10th Annual FAME Centrals! Local media outlets of all sorts had reserved their seats ahead of time in anticipation of working with the next FAME athlete.  CBC utilized the backstage area for their pilot reality show based on spray tanning and what better way to promote the use of spray tanning than to use the sculpted bodies the FAME athletes had worked so hard to attain.

Personal trainer, David Avery, and his team of competitive fitness athletes from Cobourg, Ontario kicked off the registration on Friday night, arriving half an hour early ready to get their competitor numbers and continue with their show prep that night. These first time competitors were ready to impress.  Other athletes came from all over Ontario, Quebec and even New York to compete in this All Natural Bodybuilding, Figure, Muscle Model and Bikini event. Jeanne Regnier managed to pull herself from bed to still compete, flu and all.  She wasn’t going to let this bug stop her from stepping on stage. Registration was complete within 2 hours, giving the athletes plenty of time to relax and touch up on any last minute details.  Ian Walling finished off the evening with a FAME Camp to help athletes polish up their posing, walking and quarter turns so they could be at their top level during pre-judge the next morning.

FAME Pros, Renaldo Gairy, Andrew Judson & Heidi Richards were a part of the judging panel on show day assessing all the necessary elements that were needed to advance in each level, from the symmetry to the routines.  Seeing the show from a whole new perspective, it wasn’t until then these Pros realized the importance of being “on” at all times while on stage.  Thanks also to past competitor Michelle Kerr who was a fantastic addition on the panel. 

After the screening process was completed, bodybuilders from all categories,  juniors to super grandmasters, had a chance to pump up one last time and then step on stage and showcase their work of art—their sculpted bodies.  The show continued on to include bodybuilding routines, the figure competitors and their routines and Muscle Models and Bikini models.  Judging wrapped up at 12:30pm giving the athletes time to meet with media officials and get pumped for the evening show.

The evening show kicked off with an opening act, each competitor doing an enthusiastic walk down the stage, the lighting catching every striation that individual worked so hard to create.  Ending the opening act was the first ever WNSO pro, Ian Walling, escorted by the talented FAME Pro Shannon Leroux.  The endless flashing of cameras both for media and family gave any spectator a visual description of how enthused the audience were to see the talent that stood in front of them!  FAME president Jeffrey Kippel emceed the event welcoming everyone to the show and proudly announcing each athlete as they walked out on stage.

Junior Bodybuilder Spencer Pichocki dazzled the audience with his charm. At only 17 years old already Spencer has a bright bodybuilding future ahead of him as he walked away with 1st place.  In the Masters divisions, Chris Becanic took 1st place with his flawless routine. 

In the Grandmasters, Gerry Bossy, who went from being wheelchair bound to bodybuilder supreme, took 1st place as he showcased his new found physique showing the audience that with perseverance anything is possible.  At 67 years young, Richard Seguin showed the audience that age really does not matter as he took 1st place in the Super Grandmasters category. Having been competing for 53 years, Richard had what it took this year to earn his Pro Card!

In the men’s short open division, Dave Ludolph who was just recently featured in a Brampton.com article, placed 1st in the short class, showcasing his army shorts he saluted the audience before walking off stage.   In addition to having a great soccer team, Ghana can also be proud of their new bodybuilding  level two champion David Donkor as he impressed the judges with his posing and technique placing 1st in the tall class.  In the Advanced Bodybuilding division, Rick Rotchild, Paul Eade and Carlo Peres were ready to face off their best physiques on stage in hopes of becoming the next Pro.  It was Rick’s symmetry and routine that won the judges over making him a new FAME pro. When asked what he plans to do next, Rick said “I am 8 weeks out of joining my fellow Pro Athletes on stage for the FAME World Championships in Toronto”.

The judges knew they had their work cut out for them as the women made their way onto the stage to showcase their figures.  Betty Carroll looked astounding as she flexed and danced her way to winning 1st place.  Needing a new focus after she lost her husband to cancer, Betty dove into the bodybuilding world and now inspires everyone around her.  “There is no such thing as can’t or won’t.  Stay positive, focused and set realistic goals” is the mantra she lives by as she goes on to compete at the World’s this June.

Kimberly Johnston who joined Betty in the Masters division, took 1st place in the Open class and 2nd in the Masters with her tribal inspired routine.  Nicole Ough, a Dave Avery athlete, took home 3rd place in both the Masters and Open division with her long mane and her perfect posing.

While the physique component was a priority, a specific athlete had tied it in with an emotional one. Andrea Heffernan’s astounding routine was dedicated to her sister passed away the day before the competition due to breast cancer.  Along with the music, a small but prominent cancer symbol was attached to her themewear allowing everyone to see and connect with her purpose for the routine.  Despite the fresh emotions she was feeling, Andrea had the power to do what most people don’t: turn an obstacle into a positive experience.  When asked how she was feeling after her routine and getting praises for being so strong Heffernan simply replied “It’s what she would have wanted.” – a statement so simple yet so powerful.

All the ladies in the figure category wowed the audience with their outstanding physiques and entertaining routines.  1st place winner and competitor, Tanya Bott, gave the audience a taste of true flexibility with her contortionist-like moves on stage.  Anansa Russell sported a Matrix like outfit as she “whipped” her way to a strong second place finish.  In addition to the strong finish in figure, Anansa also walked away second in the Bikini category.  Jeanne Regnier showed  the athletes what true dedication meant as she  managed to pull herself from bed to still compete, flu and all, in both the figure and Muscle Model category. 

Being a new category only introduced last year, Muscle Model seemed to be very popular with the Toronto crowd as both women and men from various categories wanted to show off their muscular physique.  Emma Reynolds who sported a construction worker theme wear won 1st place in the female division and Leroy Williams who sported a boxer style theme (not too far off from his normal routine) won 1st place in the male division.  Both these competitors receive their Pro Status and can compete amongst the pros at the FAME World Championships in Toronto.

The Bikini Models received the whistles and cheers from the audience as they strutted their stuff onstage.  All girls fit the bill for the Bikini look but only one walked away with her Pro Status and that was Tara Newbigging. 

To cap off the show, FAME pro “Razor” Renaldo Gairy astounded the audience with a 3 minute guest pose.  Known for his smooth transitional movements, not only did Renaldo have all eyes on him from the audience, the athletes also scrambled to all sides of the stage in hopes of having a glimpse as to what a winning routine looks like.  Moving along to Tre Stylez’s “Can’t help but wait” we couldn’t help but stare!

The evening ended with awards being given out by FAME pros such as Bikini pro Elizabeth Martin, Figure and Fitness Model pro Shannon Leroux, FAME fitness Model Pro Michael McFarlane and FAME Muscle Model pro Elijah Tabar.  Cameras didn’t even need to flash to see the shine in the athlete’s faces as they accomplished such a challenge and while some may not have won an award, the emotional attachment they brought with them made them first in their hearts.

We wish to thank those that helped to make this show a success; our show promoter Ian Walling, our expeditors Christine Killik and Carly Donovan along with the entire staff at the Lester B. Pearson Theatre.  Thanks to all the judges, awards presenters and the photographer Chris Linton of SportsNaction. A special thanks again goes out to Team Dave Avery who brought down such a big group that talks have begun for a show in his city of Cobourg Ontario for 2009!