Interview by Giles Thomas

It’s been a few months that I’ve been trying to track down the elusive 2008 UKBFF Heavyweight British Champion Alvin Small. With a competitive career that has only really spanned two active years, Alvin heads into this, his third year on stage. Having trained for over 12 years, it all began for Alvin in 2006 when he won his class at the UKBFF British Championship qualifier at Leicester and went on to the Royal Centre Nottingham that October to win the Intermediate British title. He has just taken an impressive fifth place in the Arnold Classic amateur super-heavyweight class in his first overseas attack and, along with mentor and IFBB pro Harold Marillier, both are promising to bring an even more formidable package after his surprise win at the British Championships at the latter end of 2008. Finally, I’ve managed to pin this Mr Monster down, for you, the BodyFitness readers…
Giles: Alvin hi, you’re a hard man to trace. First up, well done on that amazing victory at Nottingham last year, I don’t think you’d find anyone that would not agree that that was one of the very toughest heavyweight line-ups I think the UKBFF British has ever seen, well, certainly not since the Muscleworks days in the mid 90’s.
Alvin: Thank you very much and yes, I’d have to agree with you, I think the heavyweight class is at the highest standard it’s ever been and is only getting better.

By Dwayne Pipher

The moment Ben Pakulski first stepped on a contest stage it was evident that this young guy had the right qualities to do well in bodybuilding. And I don’t just mean the right physical qualities, which were obvious in spite of his youth, but also the burning desire he had to learn all the tricks of the trade and the fact that he was more than comfortable under the spotlight. Even Ben knew he was going to make it as a pro. Some might call that arrogance or over confidence, but I believe it is one of the key factors that allow a bodybuilder to progress. Yes, that, and top class pectorals like Ben Pakulski’s.
Physiologically and genetically speaking we are all different, but bodybuilders know you should take nothing for granted, or lost, and that anyone can change what God gave them almost at will with persistent and rigorous training.
Now, Ben Pakulski has some body parts that are simply out of this world, like his legs and shoulders, but precisely because they are so big has meant Ben has had to work so much harder at building his chest so that it is not totally overshadowed by the giant balls of muscle at either end of his clavicles.
The Canadian actually has huge, full and well defined pectoral muscles, but now that he finally has attained pro status and will have to measure up to the elite in the sport he can’t afford to let any detail slip. Especially since the IFBB pro ranks abound with bulging, super-developed chests.