THE FIRST major event on the Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association calendar, the Novice Mr. Jamaica, Miss Jamaica Body-Fitness International and Teenage Mr. Jamaica championships, are on tonight at the Girl Guides Headquarters, 2 Waterloo Road, St. Andrew, starting at 8:00.

Twenty males will be vying for the Novice Mr. Jamaica title, 17 females for the Miss Jamaica Body-Fitness title and five youngsters for the Teenage Mr. Jamaica title. Representatives are drawn from many of the island's top gyms and health studios.

COMPETITORS

The only competitors who competed in the Novice Mr. Jamaica last year are Winston Johnson from Get Active Gym in Kingston, Neil Roberts from Body Flex Gym Port Antonio, Bruce Frankson from Techno Robics Spanish Town and Caribbean Fitness Academy's Omar Tobin, winner of the Teen-Age Mr. Jamaica last year.

The Novice Mr. Jamaica is for competitors who have not won the Novice competition or placed first to third in the Junior Mr. Jamaica or first to third in any weight categories in Mr. Jamaica championships.

According to Frederick Smith, president of the Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, "This year's Novice Mr. Jamaica and Miss Jamaica Boby fitness competitions will be very keenly contested.

"The Miss Jamaica Body-Fitness especially should draw a lot of cheering as the girls will be wearing swimwear which should draw the attention, especially the men in the audience," Smith said.

The championships are sponsored by Sanatogen Tonic Wine and Vigorton 2, along with associate sponsors Sports Development Foundation, Coca-Cola, Pavilion Mall, CVMTV, TVJ, Jamaica Observer, Spartan Health Club, Supligen, Nature's Mist and cable companies JACS and TELSTAR.