Darrem at his best at Macoya

TOP Trinidad and Tobago bodybuilder Darrem Charles has put up his success on the international stage as an incentive for local musclemen. The United States-based Charles urged the growing body building fraternity yesterday to never give up on their dreams but to remain committed and focussd on their goals. “There is a rainbow at the end of the tunnel. But you must be prepared to work hard. It is a tough sport but nothing worth gaining ever comes easily,” said Charles. Charles, currently ranked No 9 among the world heavyweights was speaking at the Board Room of National Flour Mills (NFM), Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, yesterday at a media conference for the Eastern Caribbean Body Building and Fitness Championships. The contest, which has attracted seven overseas countries will be staged from 6 pm tonight at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya. Prejudging is from 10 am at which holders of the $100., tickets are allowed to view.

Charles, who has been invited to guest at the chmpionships, said he was delighted to be asked to return home and would have done so even if he had a previous commitment. “It means a lot to me to come back and try and give something to the sport. It makes me very happy to get the kind of recognition by my own people,” said a fit-looking Charles said. Also in attendance were Hayden Straker, acting president of the Body Building Federation; Andrew Stroude, second vice-president; and Richard Roberts, chairman of the Judges Committee.
Members of the TT team for the championships were also present. Roberts praised Charles as an excellent ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago and thanked him  for taking time from his busy schedule to return home and allow his local fans to see him at his best. He said Trinidad and Tobago stood an excellent chance of claiming the Eastern Caribbean Championship for the first time as the national team was prepared to take on any challenge.

Defending champions are St Lucia who won the contest two years ago at home. There was no tournament last year. At least 35 competitors from seven countries are here including St Maarten, Barbados, Antigua, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Anguilla and US Virgin Islands. Charles said he has been travelling extensively throughout the world recently winning a competition in Rome after performances in Dallas, New York, California, Houston and Canada. He said his immediate goal is to place among the top ten at the upcoming Mr Olympia competition in Las Vegas, which will be a first in his outstanding career. Charles said he is excellently poised to break this barrier as he is in peak physical condition and highly motivated. He also feels the judging of the body building competition is now working in his favour and will give him an opportunity to turn the tables on his more established opponents. “The judges are now looking favourably at the aesthetic appearance of the competitors and not the raw, gladiatorlike form as they have done,” said Charles. He said he has achieved much since his early days in Trinidad and Tobago and is only looking for the icing on the cake with a few more magazine covers to crown off his campaign on the world stage. Charles revealed that he is contracted to Weider Nurtition which owns “Flex” and “Muscle Fitness” magazines and is a regualr feature on their pages giving him entrance into millions of homes and gyms worldwide. He said his travelling around the world and steady income has made him happy and comfortable and urged local business houses to support bodybuilding.