Belgrave: I'll be back!

LYNDON BELGRAVE plans to return better and bigger after the disappointment of failing to crack the Top 10 at the recent Montreal Men's Pro (Bodybuilding) Classic in Canada.

It was the fourth time in as many contests that Belgrave has endured disappointment in the pro ranks and he told the DAILY NATION, the judges were more concerned about names than physiques.

"It is still about a lot of who is who and names. While there can be no disputing the Top 5, the rest of positions were questionable. I thought I was better than in Texas and I am a little disappointed not to have made the Top 10. Paul Dillett posed poorly, was off in terms of condition and nothing like the Dillett we know and yet placed tenth. He was lucky to even place," said Belgrave, who returned home Monday night.

The three-time Mr Barbados, who turned 37 last month, said he knew what he has to do before he stepped back on stage.

"Clearly, I have to add some mass to my upper body and how much improvement I make between now and next year will determine when I will compete again. My shoulders, arms and across the chest remains the areas I have to work on," he said.

Trinidad and Tobago's Darrem Charles had to settle for the runner-up for the third time this year, nosed out this time by American Johnnie Jackson.

"It was like, 'Oh no, not you again'," Jackson said of seeing the contest come down to him and Charles. "Twice in Toronto he kicked my butt. It was me and Darrem standing there . . . he said, 'This might be it for you.' I was like 'Man, it's you though.' I didn't expect it. It's awesome."

Quincy Taylor, who was the largest man on stage at 304 pounds, was disappointed with his third place.

"It wasn't close between Darrem and me at all. Darrem wasn't even close. Darrem's out of shape right now. Everybody knows it. He knows he's out of shape. He wasn't in shape last week and he wasn't in shape this week. And I'm the one who's paying the price for it. But hey, it's bodybuilding."

The 40-year old Dillett, making his return to competition after taking nearly four years away from the stage, took the placing in stride.

"I feel a big sense of accomplishment," said Dillett, who weighed in at 270 pounds for the show. "I made this transformation after one year of training after not training for three years. To go from absolutely nothing to what I look like right now, I feel like I've already won."

Barbadian Henderson Thorne, who is based in Canada, was a modest 14th.