News Event July 2009

The UK's Fittest Royal Marine Gym Athlete

On the 22nd July at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone Devon, members of the Royal Marines, from all units gathered for their annual (now in it's second year) Cross Training Challenge, organised by two the UK's top Gym Athletes, Cpl Chris Lord and Cpl Les Barrow, this event builds on a strength, endurance and speed test of both physical and mental capabilities something the Marines are world famous for.

Constructed last year by input from Adrian ' Chuck Berry' and Andy Curreton (both highly respected Gym Athletes) this event had the added difficulty of combining the units who are deployed worldwide in combat theatres - and for the lads to turn up as they did, was a great testament to their character in supporting the sport of X Training.

The sport is adapting to a more structured criteria over recent years, it is no longer undefined in its concept, but very much structured both in training and events. The arena in which Gym Athletes perform is the gym - using gym based equipment. This now gives clear definition of the infrastructure in which to capatalise on in terms of development. It is no more different then an Athletics stadium needing a 'Track and Field' venue to perform to get results - the outcome is the same - a measured and structured basis for development based on over 5000 gyms in place already.

What separates the civilian gyms from the forces is that the Royal Marines and other forces are focused entirely on their fitness levels and are not driven by sales targets - they in fact weed out those that don't cut it in the first weeks of training - so building a tight fit unit that can adapt and act as a team in any theatre or campaign - ultimately creating and bringing the best out of you as an individual. It is here where there is a cross over in what X Training does to you individually and what you have achieved physically at your own gym. The community of a gym that X Train are as equal in the same principle. A close knit group who like nothing more then to support one another and get results.

Cpl Chris Lord 'Lordy' receives his fastest time of the day award from C.O. Colonel Jones.

Cpl Lord won the day and set a new blistering course record, breaking the the 16 minute barrier with a time of  15.55 and Cpl Les Barrow knocked nearly a minute off his time from last year, finishing in 16.51 . WorldGymChallenge.com donated the annual photo trophy that shows the time to beat annually. There were some very close races throughout the day and it was great meeting the lads and seeing some of the best performances  ever achieved in a single day. Also returning back from the US was UFC 'house competitor' this year in US vs UK - Cpl Martin Stapleton 'Stapes' over seeing events. A brilliant and very entertaining day, with some awesome display's of pure physical fitness.

The future for the sport has plans for expansion and investment, but the current climate sees little funding for non specific Olympic title bids. 2012 sees the UK hosting the the famous five rings and seeing hopefully the biggest ever array of young UK up and coming stars of the track and field catapulted into superstardom and they each and everyone of them deserve all the rewards they get - but in the background - working equally as hard and getting no recognition is a sport that if you attend a gym can compete in to get the absolute maximum from you in terms of results and achievements and X Training is supported by the Royal Marines because that is exactly what it does - in terms of sport with a finish line - once you have crossed it, there is no going back and you will discover just what your body has in terms of limitation and endurance and tell yourself , I really achieved something today.

Thank you to For Goodness Shakes for supplying the after event shakes to all the Marines who took part.

Comming up shortly ...

Read what a few of the those who were there had to say about the Sport of X Training and what it was like to be part of the UFC show this year.

Cpl Lord

Cpl Martin Stapleton

Penny Thackray