Members of the Bermuda BodyBuilding, Fitness and Figure Team are celebrating after returning from the 37th Annual Central American and Caribbean Body Building and Fitness Competition in Grenada with a clutch of medals.

The 13 member team represented Bermuda in 10 different categories, and earned 11 medals, including three first place trophies during the event last weekend.

Ranae Cann took first place in the Women's Class D Body Fitness category, while Current Miss Bermuda Susan Rebello took home the first place trophy in the Women's Lightweight Body Building category. For the men, five-time Mr. Bermuda Ross Caesar captured the first place trophy in the Men's Light Middleweight Body Building category.

Other medal and trophy winners were: Betty Doyling, third place trophy in Women's Class A Body Fitness Category; Mechelle Willins, third place trophy in Women's Class B Body Fitness; Caroly Erasmus, third place trophy in Women's Open Fitness; Natosha Rayner, fifth place medal in Women's Open Fitness; Monroe Darrell, second place trophy in Men's Open Fitness; JaVaughn Dill, fifth place medal in Men's Lightweight (Body Building) class; Devon Bean, fifth place medal, Men's Light Middleweight; and Garwin (House) Phillips taking the third place trophy in the ever popular and highly contested Super Heavyweight class.

The Bermuda athletes arrived in Grenada last Wednesday and were accompanied by coaches Melanie De Rosa, Vice President of the Bermuda Body Building Federation (BBBF), and Muhsin Ashir.

Dennis Wainwright, President of the BBBF, Vice President of the Central American & Caribbean Body Building & Fitness Federation (CACBBFF), veteran judge for the International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB), and Cup Match legend also accompanied the team.

Nineteen countries from the Caribbean and Central America were represented by 135 athletes this year. Competitors from Barbados, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago took home the top overall trophies, thus earning their Professional cards, meaning they are now eligible to participate in professional competitions. The actual event was delivered, organised, and received well, garnering praise from Mr. Wainwright who said: "The nation of Grenada was an excellent host, and the event was well-organised and well attended."

Coach Melanie DeRosa was also very pleased with this year's event, especially Team Bermuda's performance, and is looking forward to returning to the 2010 CAC in Aruba with an even stronger team.

This year's complement of veterans and newcomers was quite impressive, and with continued community support, this internationally acclaimed Bermuda team will go from strength to strength in the coming years, she said.

For anyone interested in participating, whether just for training and conditioning or to become a competitor, or if interested in attending the Bermuda and/or Aruba competitions, please write to Melanie De Rosa at goldielockspro@gmail.com.