IT IS hard to believe that Hugh Ross’s first bodybuilding competition was in 2002 at the Musclemania Atlantic. Stepping on stage for the first time he entered the Men’s Novice division and easily took the overall title, after claiming the Men’s Master title in the Over-40 class. That feat was followed by many more for the world renowned United States-based Guyanese bodybuilder and powerlifitng champion, as he also captured the coveted Mr Universe Masters Over-50 title at the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (NABBA) 60th Mr Universe Competition late last year.
He capped the year with the National Sportsman title, followed by a Medal of Service and yesterday at a simple ceremony, local beverage distributors Ansa McAl said thank you to Ross in a tangible way at their head office.
According to Ansa McAl’s Public Relations Officer, Darshanie Yusuf, her company always feels pleased to give back to the community and also recognises sportsmen and women who have made Guyana proud in their respective field.
“To people like Ross who promotes and pushes himself at the end of the day to represent this country, Ansa McAl as a company will reward him for that.
It is his own accomplishments but at the end of the day, Guyana and all Guyanese can say he came from us and he is out there representing us. How can we not as a company support that? Hence our reward to him today, for as you know, we are always proud to support and recognise the country’s sportsmen and women,” stated Yusuf.
She added, “Sports is actually one of our hobbies as well, be it horseracing, cricket, for which we are a fanatic, football and we started to branch off, getting into various aspects of sports and when people with talent, such as Ross here achieve certain things, it gives us pleasure to help them moving to the next stage and we are always grateful to take those steps with you.”
In his brief thank you remarks, Ross highlighted a few of his accomplishments of late, including his Musclemania title, USA national titles in both powerlifitng and bodybuilding along with his category wins in the Mr Universe and World Championships in Dublin, Ireland.
The 53-year-old Ross, who was named Guyana’s 2011 Sportsman-of-the-Year and also was awarded a Medal of Service, highlighted his sometimes tiresome routine at competitions, which is different in comparison to other athletes.
“When I enter into a competition, I don’t think persons have the knowledge as to what I go through to become so successful,” said Ross.
He added, “I am my own trainer, manager, coach and dietician and unlike the other athletes who have persons going to the various show meetings on their behalf for them, I have to do it all on my own, attending the coaches and managers meetings and even the athletes briefing sessions, so I lose out on sleep most of the time.
“My alarm is constantly going off for should I miss one of those meetings, then I would be out of the event and I can proudly say that to date I have not been expelled from any event for either missing a meeting or anything that is deemed unworthy by the organisers.”
Ross said bodybuilding was just his hobby and while he does have a regular job, on most of his days off, he works overtime to garner in extra cash to assist with his training, hence Ansa McAl’s gesture yesterday truly had a special meaning to him.
Just last Saturday, Ross presided over the successful hosting of the third biennial Hugh Ross Classic at the National Cultural Centre which was won by Buddy’s Gym’s Kerwin Clarke, who had earlier claimed the welterweight division before going on to take the overall title.