2004 NPC Cal and California Pro Figure Contest Report

by Gene X Hwang - May 28-29, 2004

Culver City, CA, USA - The Cal has long been one of the more impressive state shows producing memorable bodybuilders for years but recently the depth of talent has seemed to get more and more shallow. This year, there were only five lightweights, two middleweights and two heavyweights. However, each of the class winners was strong, and should have an impact at the National level.

Masters and lightweight champion Nancy Lynn Simms was probably the most shredded woman on stage and her back detailing was incredible with cuts throughout her entire upper back visible even two days later. She easily took her class although newcomer and novice competitor Colleen Williams showed a strong physique that with some added thickness throughout should improve.

The middleweights were perhaps the most competitive class. Cheri Owen who won the class at the Excalibur late last year returned to the same auditorium to try and take the class but the judges rated Shawna Walker ahead of her.

Owen had thicker muscularity and better density, but Walker was a bit more sleek and the judges went for that and awarded her the class title.

The heavyweights was home to overall champion Cindy Johnson who was edged out of the class title a few weeks ago at the Contra Costa, but made the extra push and defeated Tama to win the class, and eventually the overall and earned the ever-coveted sword that goes along with winning the Cal.

Fitness looked to improve a bit with some very impressive routines and that included overall winner KellyG. With a new website launching on the same weekend as the Cal's it was a busy and fruitful weekend for the bubbly and ever enthusiastic KellyG who will be gunning for her pro card later this year.

In the short class, the dynamic Shiva Bagheri performed the crowd's favorite routine with awesome stage presence and energy. She beat out newcomers Diana Wydo and Ruby Khan but they were all strong competitors.

Figure of course was the largest competition and all six classes were required and Master's figure even had three classes.

Nancy Hirsch ended up taking the masters and then swept to the open figure overall title as well, proving that with age comes maturity and her muscularity was evident.

In the short class shape was rewarded over muscularity though as Chrissy Garcia was second behind Sonya Adcock.

In the C class, Amber Garrison showed good thickness while Carrie Shindley was edged out by Hirsch in her class, she showcased a nice aesthetic physique that can carry a few more pounds of muscle and still look great.

The E class may have been the smallest with just three athletes, but class winner Angela Watson looked tremendous in the same way Amber Littlejohn does with a nice v-taper and tiny waist. She didn't get as good a look by the judges in the overall, but don't overlook this woman as she should have a very strong future in figure.

In the tallest F class, it was Delene King the obvious choice with a nice sleek package.

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California Pro Figure

This year marked the incorporation of a professional figure competition with the Cal, and there were originally 40 athletes signed up to fight it out for the three Olympia qualifications. Competitors came from India, Holland and Italy among other countries and there was a very international feel to the competition.

Perhaps the most muscular and impressive competitor was Italy's Lorena Cozza who's physique was packed with shapely muscle but to the detriment of her placing as she was tied in last place with several others even thought she was conditioned and symmetrical, but too muscular for the judges.

Cozza could consider bodybuilding and do quite well, and it would be great to see a crossover from figure to bodybuilding which has yet to be done.

Another athlete who was not recognized in her placings but looked strong was Rhonda Riley who was very tight and presented a very nice physique. Her shoulder to waist ratio was very impressive and her legs matched her upper body well.

It was Elaine Goodlad though that took the title, and after competing in more shows in recent history than many other pros, finally got to take home her first professional victory.

Following Goodlad was Zena Collins who was a more compact and tight physique and was only behind by a single point.

Amber Littlejohn got the last Olympia qualification spot and was followed by the very popular Lena Johanessen who was very tight and lean. Behidn her was the rising Kim Becker who pulled things together and really impressed everyone with her tight physique.

Christine Pomponio-Pate slimmed down from previous shows and her sleek new physique propelled her to sixth ahead of Mari Kudla-Donnelly.

With the contest season in full swing, expect to see many of these same competitors in upcoming shows whether pro or amatuer. The GNC Show of Strength is still on and as an open competition will be sure to draw a lot of the pros who are still trying to qualify for the Olympia just three weeks prior to it.

And many of the bodybuilders and figure athletes will be on stage again at the Jr Nationals in Chicago in a few weeks which should be one of the strongest fields for that competition in recent years. Look for a preview here for the Jr Nationals shortly.

Results

Amateur Bodybuilding Overall: Cindy Johnson Lightweights 1) Nancy Lynn Simms 2) Colleen Williams 3) Ophelia Ogren 4) Kristine Yu Middleweights 1) Shawna Walker 2) Cheri Owen Heavyweights 1) Cindy Johnson 2) Tama Masters 1) Nancy Lynn Simms Fitness Overall: KellyG Short 1) Shiva Bagheri 2) Diana Wydo 3) Ruby Khan Tall 1) KellyG 2) Jennifer Sandidge 3) Sara Flom   Masters Figure Overall: Nancy Hirsch Class A 1) Masai Parker 2) Laura Kutna Class B 1) Nancy Hirsch 2) Marilyn Elam 3) Janet Bannowski 4) Julie James Class C 1) Kristen Howe 2) Beth Darmer 3) Joanna Duarte IFBB California Pro Figure Championships 1) Elaine Goodlad* 2) Zena Collins* 3) Amber Littlejohn* 4) Lena Johannesen 5) Kim Becker 6) Christine Pomponio-Pate 7) Mari Kudla-Donnelly 8) Michelle Adams 9) Melissa Frabielle 10 tie) Latisha Wilder 10 tie) Andi Breunig 12) Allison Bookless 13) Mavis Tozzi 14) Lisa Schaerer 15) Sandra del Vecchio 16) Alexandra Kobielak 17) Christine Wan 18) Patty Garner 19 tie) Inga Nenerayskaite 19 tie) Rhonda Riley 19 tie) Chandra Tangi 19 tie) Allison Williams 23 tie) Aleison Abdala 23 tie) Adita Banerjee 23 tie) Valerie Bennett 23 tie) Lorena Cozza 23 tie) Jennifer Devine 23 tie) Deboria Denio 23 tie) Lisbeth Halikka 23 tie) Tammie Leady 23 tie) Lisa Reed 23 tie) Aristea Rizos 23 tie) Libby Streeter 23 tie) Michelle Sharp * qualifies for Figure Olympia

Amateur Figure Overall: Nancy Hirsch Class A 1) Sonya Adcock 2) Chrissy Garcia 3) Masai Parker 4) Alexandra Valdes 6) Heidi Ho Class B 1) Ginger Wolesky 2) Kim Higley 3) Nicole Gunther 4) Halcon Voort 5) Amy Grosso Class C 1) Amber Garrison 2) Gina DiBenedetto 3) Vivian Xu 4) Angela Moore 5) Anna Tigre Class D 1) Nancy Hirsch 2) Carrie Shindley 3) Anna Larson 4) Crystal Winnow 5) Rebecca Sellers Class E 1) Angela Watson 2) Jessica Garmo 3) Effey Zeremel Class F 1) Delene King 2) Avis Ware 3) Kristin Howe 4) Amanda Chatman 5) Maya Callahan