By: Brian Bullman

2009 IFBB Europa Show of Champions

This coming weekend we will see another great bodybuilding extravaganza come to fruition with Ed and Betty Pariso's "Show of Champions" dubbed the Orlando Pro by many in the bodybuilding circuit. That is mainly due to the fact that the show is in Orlando!!

The event itself has some great attractions. There will be a UFC training camp and of course Shawn Ray's Superstar Seminar. There will also be an expo with a "hot mom" contest, an NPC bikini contest, arm wrestling, powerlifting and strongman competition.

There is not a big line up at this event but the standard of competitor will be high as there are 3 Olympia invites up for grabs. With the only competitor already qualified being Japan's Hidetada Yamagishi, you can be sure that every one of the lesser known competitors will be bringing their 'A' game. If not they will be missing a ripe opportunity to qualify for the big dance, that is the Mr. Olympia.

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At this stage of the game there are no more than 11 competitors already committed to competing, they are:

• Troy Alves (USA)
• Francisco Bautista (Spain)
• Raul Carrasco (Spain)
• Darrem Charles (Trinidad)
• Omar Deckard (USA)
• George Farah (USA)
• Andy Haman (USA)
• Jonathan Rowe (USA)
• Frederic Sauvage (France)
• Nathan Wonsley (USA)
• Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)

There is not one real stand out competitor in this contest that I can hold my hand up and say this is the front runner other than Darrem Charles. After all, this is his backyard and he has won no fewer than 8 IFBB contests, the most recent of which being last year in Atlantic City. That being said, Hidetada Yamagishi is already qualified for the Olympia and could very well earn his first IFBB victory. Veteran IFBB Pro Troy Alves came into the Ironman earlier this year, looking very soft in the leg department. Should he bring those up to par with his upper body conditioning he will be a threat, and then again if my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle?LOL

I'm only joking Troy so don't get mad at me when we bump into each other next!!!

So let's take a look at the line up and what they have to offer.

Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan):
My Prediction Is A 1st Place Finish.

He is already qualified for the Olympia through his top 5 finish at the Ironman. The Japanese Pro will surely be looking to gain his first pro victory, and in my opinion is the man to beat.

Click To Enlarge.
Hidetada Yamagishi At The 2009 IFBB Iron Man Pro.
View More Pics Of Hidetada Yamagishi At The 2009 IFBB Iron Man Pro.

Darrem Charles (Trinidad):
My Prediction Is A 2nd Place Finish.

With no fewer than 8 pro wins to his credit, he will be looking to add to his tally. However, I feel that his best years are behind him and will find it tough to edge out Yamagishi, although not impossible.

Click To Enlarge.
Darrem Charles At The 2008 IFBB Olympia.
View More Pics Of Darrem Charles At The 2008 IFBB Olympia.

Francisco Bautista (Spain):
My Prediction Is A 3rd Place Finish.

Although he doesn't have the nicest physique on the stage, he does bring savage conditioning and thick dense muscle. I feel in this line up it will be too much to ignore and Bautista will earn another Olympia invite.

Click To Enlarge.
Francisco Bautista At The 2008 IFBB New York Mens Pro.
View More Pics Of Francisco Bautista At The 2008 IFBB New York Mens Pro.

Omar Deckard (USA):
My Prediction Is A 4th Place Finish.

He still has a lot of growing to do to fill out his 6ft 1in frame. He has a very symmetrical physique and combines that with good conditioning, which should be enough to get him to the posedown and fight for an Olympia invite.

Click To Enlarge.
Omar Deckard At The 2009 IFBB Iron Man Pro.
View More Pics Of Omar Deckard At The 2009 IFBB Iron Man Pro.

Troy Alves (USA):
My Prediction Is A 5th Place Finish.

He could very easily make the top 3 and find himself in Las Vegas this coming September, but he really needs to tighten up in the leg department for that to happen. His Ironman appearance will have done him no favors and will leave both the fans and judges looking for an improvement.

Click To Enlarge.
Troy Alves At The 2009 IFBB Iron Man Pro.
View More Pics Of Troy Alves At The 2009 IFBB Iron Man Pro.

Frederic Sauvage (France):
My Prediction Is A 6th Place Finish.

The French man has some great lines, perfect balance, and some of the best conditioning on the stage; he lacks some thickness, especially in the back. This contest is the perfect contest for him to show the bodybuilding world what he is made of.

Click To Enlarge.
Frederic Sauvage At The 2008 IFBB Europa Super Show.
View More Pics Of Frederic Sauvage At The 2008 IFBB Europa Super Show.

George Farah (USA)

Bullet proof Farah has been to the Olympia on more than one occasion. He will be looking for a repeat invitation here in Orlando. I feel that he will have a fight on his hands with Sauvage and Alves for a place in the posedown.

Click To Enlarge.
George Farah At The 2008 IFBB Olympia.
View More Pics Of George Farah At The 2008 IFBB Olympia.

Raul Carrasco (Spain)

The Spaniard has not really done much yet in the IFBB, but he does have some good conditioning, but lacks it in the size department.

Click To Enlarge.
Raul Carrasco At The 2008 Tampa Bay.
View More Pics Of Raul Carrasco At The 2008 Tampa Bay.

Andy Haman (USA)

The 5' 11' 250lb Overall National Masters Champion will have a big presence on the stage, but will his physique be enough to take some names and make the posedown? I think not, but he will be hard to miss, that's for sure.

Click To Enlarge.
Andy Haman At The 2008 Europa IFBB Super Show.
View More Pics Of Andy Haman At The 2008 Europa IFBB Super Show.

Jonathan Rowe (USA)

The former National Champion has a physique that reminds me of Chris Cormier, but he seems to lack that conditioning. Has some good potential.

Click To Enlarge.
Jonathan Rowe At The 2007 Atlantic City Pro.

Nathan Wonsley (USA)

Another former Masters National Champion, he has a real tight dense physique that is well balanced and brings in some good conditioning too.

Click To Enlarge.
Nathan Wonsley At The 2008 NPC Tampa Bay.
View More Pics Of Nathan Wonsley At The 2008 NPC Tampa Bay.

Conclusion

So there are my top 6 predictions. I am going with Hidetada Yamagishi to take home the winners check along with his first IFBB Pro Victory, and the remaining Olympia invites going to Darrem Charles and Francisco Bautista. We will see how accurate I am come Saturday evening and who knows, maybe we will all get a surprise from some dark horse!!

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