2021 NPC Empire Classic
Figure, Wellness, WPD and Bodybuilding Championships
(Spokane, WA - May 8, 2021)
The Empire Classic in Spokane is an event we always hope to squeeze into our contest coverage...sometimes more successfully than
others and also depending on its proximity to Emerald Cup. This has always been one of two 'Flagship' events for Ribic Productions and
despite all the trials and tribulations of the moment have ALWAYS stepped up for the athletes, managing in the fall of 2020 to put on its other
prominent event, The Night of Champions! Together with the Big Sky Championships, they've solidified their place in the Northwest and
now partnering with Craig Productions as mentioned in our Emerald Cup reports, is great news for the sport in the region!
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Starting with Figure, a nice win for Alex Edwards, good size and shape from powerlifting...she'll do well in the sport having also won her class at Emerald Cup
a couple weeks earlier. We were fortunate to be able to photograph her leading up to this competition at her gym, 'Fully Charged Fitness' in Selah, Washington
along with National level Bikini competitor Kimber Buehler. Our media coverage tour took us all over this great State plus parts of Oregon! Among those competing
in all 3 Washington events we covered this spring was Tacoma's Ashley Blackmer. She's got that 'Figure' proportionality and now under the guidance of Seth and
Vanessa of 'The Training Pit', expect more from her next season. Speaking of travels, we got in an evening beach shoot with Ashley in Seattle a couple days
later before completing our work and returning home to Canada.
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Of note in Figure was Jessica (Shanley) Forsyth winning Masters 35+ and taking 2nd to Alex in Open 'A' Class! Impressive size and shape...incidentally sister to one of the
nicest and favorites in this industry we've had the pleasure to meet and photograph, Jackie (Shanley) Kastelic. A nice lean look on 3rd placer in that class Crissa Phillips.
Wellness saw two excellent class winners, Ashley Arguello taking Overall in a split decision over Rochelle Cochrane who was in only her first competition! While there were only a couple competitors in WPD and Bodybuilding, great job
with their routines, etc.
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A huge thanks to Promoters Ribic & Craig Productions, volunteers and the dedicated competitors who keep this sport growing.
BTW, Elaine Craig did a masterful job as emcee!
The Pacific Northwest is a special place when it comes to the NPC community with everybody pitching in
to make each others' shows as successful as possible. It's a continued privilege to be able to
cover and publicize these shows for decades now. We'll have more on the show here in general as time permits.
You can also find more content on Instagram @david_twixpix. Thanks for NOT cropping watermarks if reposting photos
on social media. Official results and further information
can be found at Craig/Ribic Production events..
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(Please notify me of any placing or name spelling errors, thanks.)
(click for full size)
Trophy Time
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