2006 Canadian Fitness/Figure Nationals Contest Report

July 1, 2006 - by gene x hwang

Edmonton, AB, CANADA - Canada traditionally only hands out one pro card for fitness and one for figure at its National championships, but this year four were handed out - three in figure and one in fitness.

Figure Overall (L >R) Bonnie McKechnie, Jill St Laurent, Serena Cooper, Jamie Senuk

The competition at the Canadians is impressive and because of the qualifying requirements, there's a high level of quality throughout. In the US, there are a lot of pro cards handed out in figure per year while Canada only gives out one per year. Of course the federation is allowed to grant more and this year the competition was worthy of receiving more than one. The circumstances for the granting of three in figure were a bit convaluted, but the right thing was done in the end.

There was a scoring error during the finals that announced Serena Cooper as the overall champion but the actual winner was Jamie Senuk. The second pro card was given to Jill St. Laurent so all three were granted pro status in the end.

In reality there were more than three athletes worthy of pro status, and Canada is home to a plethora of future pros. As has been the case in the past, many of the top women may compete at the North Americans so keep your eyes out for some of them in Cleveland later this year.

The only class not to be granted a pro card was the short class which was won by the impressively thick and muscular Bonnie McKechnie from British Columbia. She edged out Tracy MacDonald who switched over from fitness to figure and was in incredible shape - the judges told her she was actually too conditioned.

Third went to Lorraine Chan who has a physique that would do well in an American competition while Angela Robinson and Jackie Pawluk rounded out the top five. Kimberley Lawson from Alberta also looked tight in that class.

In the medium class, it was Jill St. Laurent who once again won the class but this year she got to turn pro. She beat out fellow Albertan Linda Thoresen and the impressively curved Lisa Lattery took third. Lattery has an incredible v-taper and very wide shoulders and should joing St. Laurent in the pro ranks. Emmanuela Pintus keeps on showing up looking great and she and Lisa Taylor completed the top five.

Also in the class was Sara Michael who has a physique that American judges would love. With a nice "V" and not as tight condition-wise, her overall package and presentation was very notable. Keep an eye out for her as well as Julie Leboeuf who also looked great.

The medium tall class was home to Serena Copper - another Albertan. The Alberta federation (ABBA) does a number of things that those in the sport should take note of. Each year, they volunteer to raise funds and the federation then uses those funds to buy uniforms (track suits) for their athletes as well as pay for some of their expenses when they go to compete Nationally. By volunteering, they also help promote the sport of bodybuilding and fitness to the wider public, helping to change perceptions of the athletes. This is so critical to the success and growth of the sport, particularly in todays society.

Back to the athletes, BC athlete Macey Boudreau made an impressive national level debut placing second just ahead of Kimberely Stefanski who's also from BC. J-Me Hannay and Shelly Yakimchuck were also in the top five.

Yakimchuck was formerly a bodybuilder and one of the comments heard from the audience was that of the top athletes being 'too muscular' and looking like bodybuilders. While many had previously been bodybuilders, there is a bit of a difference in what the Canadians go for in their Nationals compared to the states. Another notable in the class was Rena Le Messurier who was really tight and in shape.

The tall class was Jamie Senuk's all the way through although Jeni Briscoe brought a very streamlined package and will certainly be a future Canadian figure pro. Third went to Ontario's Christina Dzieduszkcki.

Newfoundland didn't have that many competitors in the show, but Kyla McGrath was very lean and was in the top five along with Quebec's Cindy Gregoire. Heather Alexander from Alberta looked really impressive in this class as she did in the Masters and Kim Tilden also looked good.

Galyna Demenko has really nice shape and should do well in future competitions too.

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Fitness at the Canadians was impressive and the routines on the whole were much better than in the US of late. The award for best routine went to Myriam Capes who was also the short class winner. Capes' routines are dynamic and when she takes the pro stage, her routines will immediately be competitive and can even put some pros routines to shame.

Second went to Allison Black-Sterling who had a nice Wonder Woman themed routine while third went to fellow Albertan Meghan McCurdy. Jennifer Jewell looked good and also had a very nice routine, but was unfortunate not to be in the top three.

The tall class was won by Marnie Holly who is a former pole vaulter. She performed some impressive tumbling moves in her routine to win the class ahead of Jennifer Reece who may now be hanging it up in fitness and swtiching to figure.

Tanis Hill took third and Janine Waloinski and Lyndsay Imrie were in the top five. Renee Berard showcased an entertaining routine while her physique wasn't quite as tight, but she should have been in the top give and was the most overlooked competitor in fitness.

After a successful year in Edmonton the Canadian Fitness and Figure Nationals will once again be held in Alberta and Cabel McElderry (of Fitness FX) - who did an great job with the competition this year - promises even more next year.

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Check out our message boards to discuss the competition, post your thoughts and chat with the athletes!

Results

Fitness Overall: Myriam Capes* Short Class: 1) Myriam Capes* 2) Allison Black-Sterling 3) Meghan McCurdy 4) Tamara Vahn 5) Jennifer Jewell Tall Class: 1) Marnie Holly 2) Jennifer Reece 3) Tanis Hill 4) Janine Waluinski 5) Lindsay Imrie 6) Laura Iseli 7) Kira Magnin-Foster 8) Renee Berard 9) Christa Solomon 10) Ainsley Garrett 11) Kim Tennant Womens Figure Masters 1) Lisa Taylor 2) Heather Alexander 3) Liz Moran 4) Christine Lanois 5) Deanne Brown 6) Roberta Orth 7) Lauren Arnold 8) Tammie Teneycke 9) Corrine Paulishyn 10) Sharon Whitsitt 11) Katy Unruh 12) Cindy Currie 13) Lise Viel 14) Tracey-Lynn Steele 15) Bernie Lee * eligible for IFBB pro card

Figure Overall: Jamie Senuk* Short 1) Bonnie McKechnie 2) Tracey MacDonald 3) Lorraine Chan 4) Jackie Pawluk 5) Angela Robinson 6) Kimberley Lawson 7) Catherine Aguirre 8) Heather Ward 9) Kelly Gervais Medium 1) Jill St. Laurent* 2) Linda Thoresen 3) Lisa Lattery 4) Emmanuella Pintus 5) Lisa Taylor 6) Sara Michael 7) Nancy Dinino 8) Liz Moran 9) Christine Lanois 10) Deanne Ortman 11) Julie Laboeuf 12) Patricia Barriere 13) Stacey Mlinarevic 14) Deanne Brown 15) Lauren Arnold 16) Sonia Bell 16) Julie Mainguy 16) Marnie Reiber 16) Christie Solomon Medium Tall 1) Serena Cooper* 2) Macey Boudreau 3) Kimberley Stefanski 4) Shelly Yakimchuk 5) J-me Hannay 6) Rena Le Messurier 7) Tracey Royer 8) Catherine Summers 9) Kyla Kennedy 10) Lori-ann Redding 11) Charlene Akburst 12) Debbie Sproule 13) Kim Hilderman 14) Martine Thebeau 15) Myriam Cantin 16) Corrine Paulishyn Tall 1) Jamie Senuk* 2) Jeni Briscoe 3) Christina Dzieduszyski 4) Cindy Gregoire 5) Kyla Mcgrath 6) Heather Alexander 7) Kimberley Tilden 8) Galyna Demenko 9) Roberta Orth 10) Tracey-Lynn Steele 11) Christina Thomas 12) Aga Phalen 13) Jill Mackey 14) Lise Viel 15) Katy Unruh 16) Melanie Dandeneau 16) Kylie Decosta 16) Carol Richardson * eligible for IFBB pro card