This section honours the rich history of achievers that have walked through the doors of Centaur over the last 50 years, and as the oldest private gym in Ireland and Britain (or so Victor said) it has seen its fair share of heroes over the years.
So much so that to list them all here would take forever. Instead, those that have been short listed are the ones considered by all to be the most outstanding and deserving.
Following is the top 10 Centaur Hall Of Fame, listed in no particular order of merit.
Victor Wilson Kemp
Centaur Health Studios first opened its doors to the public in 1960 under the ownership of one Victor Kemp. Victor manned the helm at Centaur for nearly 50 years (without ever losing a day due to sickness) before relinquishing ownership to Paul McIlroy.
This alone is a monumental achievement and worthy of ANY top 10 ten list. Victor is an incredibly hard worker with a business brain that never sleeps. This self made renaissance man combined a unique combination of brains, brawn and wit that will make Victor THE most unforgettable character Centaur has ever had.
At the age of 72, Victor, a former power lifting champion, could still bench press 70kg for 10 reps with little effort, get the countdown conundrum faster than a 21 year old law student and socialise humorously with kids in their teens.
Despite his “all business” persona Victor sometimes let his guard down to reveal a confidant, a mentor and a life long friend to Noel, Ted, Paddy and Bobby.
Centaur has endured 50 years worth of ups and downs, the troubles, recessions and not to mention half a century of Irish weather. But it wasn’t just the bricks and mortar that kept the gym going, it was the indomitable sprit of one man, Victor Wilson Kemp.
Centaur wouldn’t exist without you, she salutes you now!
Bobby McCabe (and the McCabe family)
In life these days the presence of a true gentleman is getting hard to come by. Bobby McCabe is the complete and utter embodiment of a gentleman.
Bobby touches the lives of everyone he meets in the most positive way imaginable. A man of great inspiration and inner strength, his dogged determination and courage amazes everyone who has ever met him.
As a young man Bobby possessed an awesome physical presence! He was a very tough and well respected man (although he’ll be embarrassed by that title, but its true). A former boxer in his youth he became a well known doorman in the old pound loney area of the lower falls, west Belfast. His exploits in this profession were many and colourful, even standing side by side with Belfast legend Silver McKee on occasion.
In 1973 Bobby first joined Centaur. This was the start of a life long friendships and a vocation to strength training that would one day preserve his quality of life beyond what doctors thought possible!
Bobby has an exceptionally rare bone disease. This condition leaves the inside of Bobby’s bones very weak. He has had operations on his spinal vertebrae which has left him several inches shorter than in his youth.
Years ago Doctors predicted Bobby would be in a wheel chair soon and for the rest of his life. Now at over 70 years of age Bobby continues to defy medical science and walks upright with full use of both legs. But not only that, to the amazement of all who witness it, Bobby makes the long trip to the gym every morning, and climbs the numerous flights of stairs that lead to the gym, and works out for about 45 minutes to an hour upon arrival, lifting weights that young men in their 20’s would be proud of!!!!
“The severity of his condition would clearly be causing him significant amounts of pain on a daily basis. But never once in the 15 years I’ve known the man have I ever heard him complain, never have I ever heard him make an excuse as to why he can’t train” says Paul McIlroy, “his sheer strength, inside and out, his determination, his will power, his courage, and what’s more, his humility, honour, spirituality and integrity make Bobby one of the most special people I’ve ever met, the man’s a hero to me”!
Bobby has also left a legacy that will honour him forever, his son Tony and grandson James also train in Centaur. The 3 different generations of the McCabe family regularly train in Centaur, sometimes with each other, and have done for many years.
The apple hasn’t fallen very far from the tree as both Tony and James are great lads. Tony, an ex boxer and doorman as well, has trained in Centaur for over 20 years himself. He then brought his son James (as his father Bobby once brought him), James is now regarded as pound for pound one of the strongest men in centaur today.
Both men clearly owe their pedigree to humble legend, father, grandfather and role model, Bobby.
Reg Park
Yes, THE Reg Park was over in Belfast many times during his bodybuilding career and met Victor on more than one occasion. During his stay he also benched a world record in Buster McShane’s gym and did a workout in Centaur benching 500lbs with ease on the old “blue bar”. Victor described him as a softly spoken gentleman who always had time for everyone, with the widest pair of shoulders he’d ever seen before or since!
Here is a list of the titles Reg won during his illustrious career.
Bodybuilding titles
1946 Mr Britain 4th
1949 Mr Britain 1st
1950 Best Developed Athlete in America - IFBB, Tall, 1st
1950 Best Developed Athlete in America - IFBB, Overall Winner Mr Europe
1950 Overall Winner Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 2nd
1951 Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 1st
1951 Mr Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner
1958 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 1st
1958 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
1965 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 1st
1965 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Overall Winner
1970 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 2nd
1971 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 3rd
1973 Mr Universe - Pro - NABBA, Tall, 2nd
Competitive stats
Height: 6'1" (185cm)
Contest weight: 225-250 lbs (102-114kg)
Off-season weight: 225 lbs (102kg)
Arms: 20" (51cm)
Freddie Gilroy
Freddie trained in Centaur up until very recently (whilst in his 70’s). Here is a little about Freddie and why he made the list.
The Belfast southpaw Freddie Gilroy was something of a shooting star. A European, British and British Empire bantamweight champion in the late 1950s and early '60s, Gilroy had only 28 fights but went out a big-fight winner, stopping Belfast rival John Caldwell in nine bloody rounds in Belfast.
An exciting, hard-hitting boxer-fighter, Gilroy was an Olympic bronze medalist who stormed his way to 21 wins in a row before losing on points to Mexico's Ignacio "Zurdo" Pina in what was considered a huge upset in 1960.
The British fight fraternity was astonishingly unaware that Pina was a southpaw (the Mexican had artfully boxed in the orthodox stance in his London workouts). Gilroy was caught by surprise, suffered an early knockdown and never got into the fight. The great British matchmaker Mickey Duff later ruefully admitted that if he had studied a little Spanish he would have known that "zurdo" meant left-handed.
Gilroy fought for the European version of the world bantamweight title, losing a controversial decision to the French-Algerian Alphonse Halimi in London in October 1960. It was a bout that Gilroy seemed to have dominated despite being dropped in the 13th round, but neutral referee and sole arbiter, Philippe de Backer, of Belgium, had Halimi winning. Author Thomas Myler wrote in his book, "The Fighting Irish," that "there was hardly a person in the arena, outside of the French party, who agreed with the verdict.
Bill Richardson
Out of the many famous bodybuilders that have trained in Centaur most were just one off visits, but Bill Richardson actually worked there!
Bill apparently had 16.5” arms before he started training!! Clearly a genetic freak, Bill quickly began to establish himself as one of Britain’s best bodybuilders.
Bill worked for Victor for many years, Victor always spoke very highly of Bill as a person as well as his ability as a bodybuilder. Whilst reminiscing once, Victor spoke of the last time he can remember a fight breaking out in Centaur and how Bill sorted it out. It was the late 70’s and two fellows got into a scuffle somewhere between the leg press machine and the squat rack (perhaps they were arguing about which was best for legs)? Victor wasn’t sure how best to separate the two men when all of a sudden Bill, also an experienced doorman, came to the rescue and grabbed the 2 men by the scruff and shook some sense into them, faced with the prospect of angering Bill further the two men shook hands and laughed it off.
Bill Richardson achieved many high accolades during his 20 year competitive career, with most of the major titles won whilst training in Centaur. Bill was also inducted into the Heidenstam Foundation Hall Of Fame in 2004.
Bill’s signed picture still sits up on the wall at Centaur in the same place it's sat for over 30 years, and it will sit there until the walls fall down around it, Bill, you’ll always be a legend in Centaur!
Bill Richardson - Competitions:
1977 European Championships NABBA Tall 2nd
1977 Mr Universe NABBA Tall 3rd
1977 World Championship WABBA Tall 1st
1978 Mr Britain NABBA Tall 1st
1978 Mr Britain NABBA Overall Winner
1978 European Championships WABBA Tall 1st
1978 European Championships WABBA Overall Winner
1978 Mr Universe NABBA Tall 1st
1978 World Championships WABBA Tall 2nd
1979 European Championships WABBA Tall 1st
1979 Mr Universe NABBA Tall 1st
1979 World Championships WABBA Tall 2nd
1980 European Championships WABBA Tall 1st
1980 European Championships WABBA Overall Winner
1980 Mr Universe NABBA Tall 1st
1980 Mr Universe NABBA Overall Winner
1982 World Championships WABBA Professional 1st
1986 European Championships NABBA Professional 1st
1988 Grand Prix England IFBB 14th
1988 Night Of Champions IFBB 17th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW9hDy_Unjc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrwrigyRXEc
Albert Beckles
Nickname: Al Peak Beckles
Born: July 14, 1930
Birthplace: Bridgetown, Barbados
Residence: North Hollywood California, USA
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 218 lbs
Albert was famous in the bodybuilding fraternity for more than one reason. His freaky double peaked split biceps and his agelessness (coming 3rd in the 1984 Mr Olympia at age 54) being the main ones.
Albert was in Belfast in the late 80’s and whilst here stopped off for a workout at Centaur, where his old friend and rival Arnold Schwarzenegger had been over 20 years previously.
Bill Pearl
Paul once asked Victor out of all the famous bodybuilders he’d met over the years which one was his favourite? Victor singled out Bill Pearl as the biggest gentlemen he’d ever met and he also preferred his physique over all others.
Here is a little bit more about bill.
BILL PEARL was born in Prineville, Oregon on October 31, 1930. At age 14 he acquired his first set of weights and has lifted weights ever since. He was a star wrestler and football player in high school. He then joined the U.S. Navy and won the 13th Naval District Heavyweight Wrestling Championship and the Pacific Northwest All Comers Meet in 1951. He began training with gym owner Leo Stern in the early '’50s in San Diego and he credits Stern with coaching him and helping him on the road to winning the following titles:
* 1953 Mr. Southern California
* 1953 Mr. California
* 1953 AAU Mr. America
* 1953 NABBA Mr. Universe, Amateur
* 1956 Mr. USA, Professional
* 1956 NABBA Mr. Universe, Professional
* 1961 NABBA Mr. Universe, Professional
* 1967 NABBA Mr. Universe, Professional
* 1971 NABBA Mr. Universe, Professional
* 1974 WBBG World's Best Built Man
* 1978 Entered into WBBG Hall of Fame
Bertil “Brutal” Fox
Bertil Fox had massive potential, definitely one of the greatest body builders never to win the Mr Olympia.
Bertil was another bodybuilding star brought over by Ivan Dunbar in the 80’s. A report of the workout he did said “he used big weights with bad form”.
I don’t know about bad form but the signed picture that sits on the wall in Centaur to this day shows Bertil hitting one of the most BRUTAL side triceps poses you’ll ever see. . . Must’ve been doing something right?
Competition Stats
1969
Mr Britain - NABBA, Junior, 1st
1970
Mr Britain - NABBA, Junior, 1st
1971
Mr Britain - NABBA, Junior, 1st
Mr Europe, Junior, 1st
1976
Mr Britain - NABBA, Winner
Mr Europe, Medium, 1st
Mr Europe, Overall Winner
Mr Universe - NABBA, Medium, 2nd
Mr World - AAU, Winner
Mr World - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr World - AAU, Medium, 1st
1977
Mr Universe - NABBA, Medium, 1st
Mr Universe - NABBA, Overall Winner
1978
Universe - Pro - NABBA, Winner
1979
Universe - Pro - NABBA, Winner
1980
World Championships - WABBA, Professional, 2nd
1981
Grand Prix Belgium - IFBB, 5th
1982
Night of Champions - IFBB, 2nd
Olympia - IFBB, 8th
1983
Grand Prix Sweden - IFBB, 4th
Grand Prix Switzerland - IFBB, 2nd
Olympia - IFBB, 5th
1984
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 5th
1986
Olympia - IFBB, 7th
1987
Grand Prix Germany - IFBB, 9th
Night of Champions - IFBB, 7th
Olympia - IFBB, 12th
1989
Arnold Classic - IFBB, 6th
Grand Prix Melbourne - IFBB, 6th
Olympia - IFBB, 11th
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 5th
1992
Arnold Classic - IFBB, 16th
Pittsburgh Pro Invitational - IFBB, 9th
1994
Ironman Pro Invitational - IFBB, 13th
Arnold Schwarzenegger
This is not a typo! In the early 1960’s Ivan Dunbar brought over the relatively unknown (at the time) up and coming bodybuilding sensation being dubbed “the Austrian Oak”.
He stayed at Ivan’s home and trained in Ivan’s gym coming up to the guest posing show he was due to perform at. At this show Victor met Arnold briefly and thought nothing of it.
“The Sunday morning after the show the door to the gym opens and in walks Arnold Schwarzenegger” says old Ted, life long member of the gym who was there at the time. “I didn’t really pay attention but Victor told me Arnold just wanted to squat and nothing else, which he did for a solid hour” Curiously he did this with no more than 180lbs for multi sets of 20 reps.
I will not bother listing Arnolds various achievements as it would take all night but suffice to say he was 7 times Mr Olympia, THE biggest Hollywood action star of all time and is now the governor of California.
Gerard McManus
3 times Irish Boxing Champion
2006 Body-For-Life Champion
Trainer of various Boxing Champions
The list goes on, but to really find out why Gerard made the list check out this link to his testimonial on this website
