Hugh Ross wins two categories at Musclemania
Stabroek News
June 20, 2002
Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) `strongman' Hugh Ross has once again
done himself and Guyana proud by carting off top honours in the novices and
masters categories of the New Haven Musclemania Bodybuilding Competition
held in Connecticut, USA, in April.
The former army captain who competed in his first bodybuilding competition,
was in 1997 and 1998 New Jersey State's Power-lifting and Connecticut Push
and Pull Classic champion in the 220 pounds category. He also won the same
division at the US Masters' National Championships held in Virginia in 2000.
The former Special Forces Jungle Instructor and paratrooper said that
power-lifting was strenuous on his joints and muscles and after experiencing a
number of torn muscles, he opted for bodybuilding, a goal he always wanted to
achieve, a GDF press release quoted Ross as saying.
Ross who also holds a black belt in karate said he was motivated by the
response of the spectators when he participated as a special guest poser at the
National Cultural Centre during Fitness Week in Guyana last July.
Since Ross' migration to the US in 1991, he had teamed up with Guyanese born
Ulric Gill who was his mentor and training partner and, under his (Gill) guidance,
he had progressed to become one of the best power-lifter in the 220 pounds
division in the US.
Ross who had developed a love for this discipline during his tenure in the GDF,
was encouraged by Gill to join the Kingsrow Barbell Club, where he
concentrated on bodybuilding.
Upon realisation of his abnormal strength and with the advice of his mentor on
his arrival in the US, Ross took up power-lifting and the results are indelibly
written in the annals of US power-lifting history.
Today, the ex-army officer enjoys appearances in catalogues, photographic
displays on the internet and sport gear modeling.
In his message to Guyanese athletes, Ross advised that sacrifice, dedication and
commitment are the watchwords for success and, that they should remain
focused and should not indulge in illegal performance enhancing drugs, but to
work assiduously to achieve their goals.