Name : Frances Walton:

Date: 29th Sept 2006

Event: Gorton Grueller

Posistion: Organiser.

Frances was responsible for stepping into Micky White's shoes and continuing the saga of the Gorton Grueller.

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Under extremely painful personal circumstances, Frances went on to organise a very successful competition.

Frances is a exemplary personal trainer, champion body builder and a shining example of how to be one of the nicest people in the sport today.

Male Open

Sam Orgee

Sam's first event in X Training event prooved to be quite a successful adventure. Encouraged to take part by Stuart Leng, Sam went on to win the Men's Open catergory.

Time: 18:31

Female Open

Kirsty Read

Kirsty Read's rise to first place in the Grueller is a classic case of dedication to training.

For somebody who is not even in the Fitness Industry Kirsty is an outstanding athlete.

Time:19:04

Male Masters

Gary Nicholas

Time:18:44

Female Masters

Sue Regan Watts

Time: 21:36

Male Intermediate

Paul Morton

Time:8:32

Female Intermdiate

Jo Kelly

Time:9:19

WGC:  Lee. You just completed the Gorton Grueller , what was the toughest event for you?

Lee: It was the Box Jumps to shoulder press (box jumps 60 , (120 each side)That was tough.

WGC: I know about that. And that was about half way through the course.How did you feel at that stage?

Lee: Dunno about half way, I seemed ok then, but when I got to the run (last event) I was close to giving up! Just after the row (after the shoulder press) I was absolutely gone.

WGC: What did you think about thejudging this year?

Lee: I thought it was spot on. Spot on. It was wasn't too strict, but strict enough. I liked the idea of the lines on the knees as wel (competitors in the open had a line drawn on their knees, which the elbow had to had to touch above) it meant nobody could cheat.

WGC: I know it's not the best time to ask  (considering you have just finished the Grueller!) but are you going to be doing the Hampshire event (2nd December 2006. Hampshire Esporta)

Lee:Oh yes definitely – definitely, provided it ain’t full up. I am definitely doing that (smiles broadly)

WGC: Good man Lee, I think it will be a great event. Ty Whitlock always manages one of the best events of the year. Be good to see you there. Well done today and thanks for the chat.

WGC: Nelson, what was your toughest event on the Grueller

Nelson: Definitely the shoulder press (60 @ 25kg). That hurt!

Sean: So Nelson, how did you feel When you was half way through the shoulder press (30), what reps were you doing?

Nelson: Six to ten reps. I was doing six to ten reps. Taking a ten second break. Then when the arms were slowing up I was taking a fifteen second break.

WGC What about the bench press? (60 @ 40kg)

Nelson: Again, six to ten, then taking a ten second break. I found the bench press ok (2 mins 07 secs)

WGC. Everybody has been mentioning the bench jumps to shoulder. How did you find the bench jumps.And what was hardest for you cardio wise.

Nelson: The bench jumps weren't too bad. I remember hitting them     ((jumping over) and it stopped me. (1 min 29) But they was ok. And the hardest cardio was the run, it was a killer.

WGC: When you were on the treadmill (1000m @ 6% incline), what speed were you running at ?

Nelson: I started off at level 12, the took it down to 11 and half, which I should never have done. Then took back to 12, 13, 14, 15 16 then17 to 18 kph.

Sean: So you finished the run on 18 .kph, How long was that for 100 or 200m

Nelson: The last 100m.

I was disappointed with my run. I should have stuck to my game plan, started off on 12 and half, then keep taking it up. I would have finished in 4 min's and 29 sec's, which I had been doing in training. I was disappointed really (Treadmill fin 4 58 sec's)

WGC: Were you happy with your end time (20 mins 56)

Nelson. I was happy with my end time, but I know I could have knocked more off, if I had stuck to my game plan on the run.  Even If you ache on the treadmill at 9 kph, you may as well ache at 14 kph.

Name: Farouk Vawda.

Farouk is one of the most consistent X Trainers in the country. If an event is on he will be there. Unfortunately as it was Ramadan, Farouk could not take part as he was fasting, but WGC caught up with Farouk and asked him for his thoughts on X Training and its present state and what he would like to see happen

Sean: Farouk, what would you most like to see happen in X Training?

Farouk: I think, getting more younger people interested.

Sean: What sort of age?

Farouk: The under 25’s. You have a lot of guys who have been doing this for a long time and they are still pulling X Training along, but you know, they are winning most of the competitions. We need to see some younger people coming through. Over the next five to six years and start to bring the timings down.

Sean: When you are in your Gym. Do you see people training for X Training? Or see them doing there own thing.

Farouk. The Gym I normally go to ( Holmes Place) most of the guys are just pumping weights. There is not a lot of X Training where I usually go. But there is a good group down here , in Gorton who X Train, but again, not a lot of young blokes. They are more in to their body building and all that.

Sean: You have been watching from the sidelines today, not taking part as it is Ramadan and you are fasting. So you are in a good position to give a good view on the judging – how do you think it has been today?

Farouk:I think the judging has been fair and it has been consistent. It has been good.

Sean: What about the performances. Has it been close to watch, have you been enjoying it?

Farouk: There have been a few close races, all coming down to the treadmill. The nature of the course brings it to that, it is a good course. It is a testing course.

Sean: Thanks Farouk.

Gorton Race Report

By Stuart Leng

The third annual Gorton Grueller took place at Fitness First Gorton on Saturday 23 September. There were 80 entries, which was marginally up on last year and pleasing considering it clashed with other events over that weekend and that its original.....

Fitness First Gorton Manchester

....organisers Micky White and Naomi Peters had emigrated to Australia. Francis Walton must be congratulated for stepping into the breach and producing such a well-organised, smoothly run competition.

There were 12 enties for the ladies Intermediate, with plenty of gorton athletes taking part. Lauren Unsworth had a good race in 5th, marginally behind the consistent Michele Wakefield. In a clear 3rd place was local girl Penny Bunton in her first competition in a good time of 10.06. Dragons Carolyne Waywell was an excellent 2nd in only her second comp to make up for missing out on a medal at the Gauntlet. Gorton's Jo Kelly was a superb winner in 9.19 in her first ever comp, having been entered by a friend nad never going down the course before race day. Jo looks to have bags of potential at the higher level.

There was a healthy 22 entries in the mens section and 9 competitors broke the 10 minute barrier. the treadmills were almost on fire with many competitors running in the 18-20kph zone. zeb Perkins, a medallist at the Gauntlet was unlucky to miss out on a medal by 1 second, behind Dean Palfreyman. Mick Murfin, who was competiting in his first comp put ina very classy performance to finish second in 8.32. Paul Morton, who won the Gauntlet was an easy winner in 7.49 and should now move on to Open level with the ability that he has shown this year.

There was a disappointing entry of only 13 in the Ladies Open/Masters. Gortons Sarah Green and Francis Walton took the minor placings in the Masters, but recently married Sue Regan-Watts was a very easy winner in an excellent time of 21.36. Hayley Powell recovered from a 9 hour journey the night before to put in her best performance of the year with 5th place in the Open in 22.45. Sarah Deed, who performed excellently at Fitness Extreme and the Gauntlet was unlucky to miss out on a medal by only 5 seconds. she is a really gutsy competitor whose turn on the rostrum will surely come. The consistent Trudi Hawksworth was 3rd,

Becky Ciel  (left) and Sue Reagan Watts on the bench jumps

having just returned from holiday. Becky Ciel, who made a shock exit in the first round at UKXTA put in a great performance on a course that doesn't really suit her to finish 2nd in 21.11. Gorton's Kirsty Reid was in her class of her own, winning by over 2 minutes in 19.04. Kirsty is improving all the time and she will undoubtedly push Jacqui Mac all the way when they next meet.

There were 33 entries for the Mens Open/Masters with the masters having 6 of the 10 fastest finishers. Some struggled to match their training times with the strict judging on the Squat Thrusts and Shoulder Press. Nelson continued his rich vein of form and together with the ever-consistent Gary Nicholls and Andy Lett was unlucky to miss out on the medals. A surprise 3rd was Phil Piggot who turned the clock back to the Tropicanc days with an excellent time of 20.22.

Where would we be without the judges and timekeepers?

Steve Oxlade, another 1st round failure at UKXTA found the course to his liking for his best ever finish in in 19.58 for 2nd place. Gary Nicholas who always gives 110% and is never far away, had his best ever race in my view to win in a great time of 18.44, the second fastest time of the day. Gary has had a habit of fading inthe latter stages of his races, but he certainly found a different level today.

A lot was expected from Jason King after his outstanding performance at UKXTA, but hampered by injury, he could only manage 5th place. He is an outstanding talent with a great attitude and make no doubt, he will be winning medals very soon.Simon Bellinger was highly fancied by many for silverware, but had to settle for 4th place in 20.18. He has had a very good year all the same.

Andy wood, a tremendous cardio athlete, would not have been in many people's forecasts for a medal, but in his best ever race, was a clear 3rd in 19.25. After narrowly missing out on 1st place at UKXTA, Nick Kandola was the likely winner in most people's views. He put in his usual quality assured performance in 19.07, but surprisingly had to settle for 2nd. Sam Orgee, who travelled from the Life of Leisure gym in Worcester(formally 1on 1) was competing in his first ever competition. Until recently a semi-proffesional Rugby Union player, he only started thinking about x-training 2 months ago. He scorched down the course to match his last training run time of 18.31 and bring a beaming smile to the commentator's face! Mark my words, Sam is going to become a big name in this sport.

In summary, another quality event, many new highly promising competitors and everyone can't wait for a full-house at Southampton. X-Training fading away- you're having a laugh!!

The Class of Gorton 2006

Stuart Leng.