X Training 2009

General 

A move initiated by WGC, saw a new phrase being introduced to the sport in 2009 – Gym Based Sports and the Gym Athlete and reaching into 2010 The UK Gym Fitness Challenge Series, part of GymXTC ™ (Gym X Training Championships) will continue to add new development  and structure into trying to bring X Training into the mainstream.

This strategy is undertaken to get gyms and members to enter events as both individuals and teams.

As a trial through 2009 Fitness Points were awarded to individuals as well as gyms and this formed the basis of Gym Athlete of The Year (Jamie Spencer) and X Training Gym of the Year (Gorton Fitness First).

As a trial much was learnt and 2010 will see a fairer points system relevant to only those gyms that take part in X Training challenges up and down the country.  There will be a leader board for both male and female in 2010 and overseas events will not account for points until the sport is more developed. 

Well done to all of those of achieved recognition over the year. I'm sure 2010 will far more positive for this incredible sport and just to prove a point, a Christmas quiz is featured in the blue column to prove that Gym Athletes are getting the recognition they deserve - who can you spot?

Scoring System For X Training Gym of the Year

One Male and Female ‘outsider’ is permitted into each club. The outsider is not allowed to be another team throughout any one season.

WGC remains focused on EFR (Equal Fitness Racing) being the centre point for racing and its Gym Athlete Leader Board. 

The Forces

WGC worked closely with The Royal Marines during the year, sponsoring their event with For Goodness Shakes and covering cost’s of a special Photo Trophy.

An attempt to introduce the Royal Engineers from Chatham failed due to Operational matters.

Negotiations with troops in Afghanistan ceased after a bomb blast outside the HQ of ISAF. When the climate settles it is hoped to continue this line. 

Gym Sponsorship

The sport in the UK remains totally focused at street level. Members pay for entry and all aspects of the event. Fitness First venues continue to be the major supporter of X Training events with Fit Brit sponsored by Men’s Fitness Magazine. Virgin Active, LA Fitness, and other mainstream chains show little interest.  

Entry Fees to events

Entry fees remain low, £10 to £30 for events that are funded totally by participation of members.  

WGC Fee’s

WGC fees have been set at £75.00 plus VAT for Publication of ‘live results’ for events with over 70 participants.

£50.00 plus VAT for publication of results under 70 entries. 

£150 plus VAT (plus travel for distances over 100 miles) for publication, photography, race reports, interviews.  

On line entry can be arranged for events via our on line partner Active Network. A handling fee is charged per entry

Marketing and Advertising

As a sport with little finance to market itself, there will always be difficulty in the area. Local TV by Sean on Meridian Tonight in October had local reporter Paul Belverstone completing a Run Bike Row and feeling the effects of X Training for the first time, was seen by early evening and late evening viewers.

Other publications include several posting in Work Out Magazine, Ultra FIT magazine and local newspapers.

Relations have been developed with Physique TV in Dubai and they produced the Ultimate Gym Athlete promo currently on the home page. They are currently screening footage of Fitness Extreme 2007.

Charities

It has become very hard to be involved with charity work this year. Most established charities need an up front fee to be associated with them, and as X Training is totally funded by members only of gyms it has become problematic to raise funds as a sport. 

British Heart Foundation, Help the Heroes and the Elton John AIDS Foundation have all received funds from WGC. events. 

An attempt to introduce the Run, Bike Row as the standard challenge for Sport Relief failed this year due to exclusive rights between Comic Relief and Bannatyne’s Health Clubs. 

For Goodness Shakes

Relations with For Goodness Shakes will cease in 2010.

Gym Based Sports is actively seeking brand association with another sporting drinks label at present (more details will be released in due course) 

Judges and Time Keepers

There still waits to be a Judge and Time Keeper pool for events. As a sport it is very demanding on resources. By the ‘home gym’ becoming more involved it does provide unity and strength from core members and will undoubtedly provide stability to ensure smooth running of events. Mike Jones and the TA have proved very successful and our thanks to the TA for the contribution to judging and time keeping is very much appreciated.

The FIA (Fitness Industry Association)

A meeting with David Stalker (Operations Director) to try and instigate the UK’s Fittest Gym with the FIA . A knockout competition that would have been conducted over a period of a year  (2010) with a final in  Leisure Industry Week (Sept) was turned down due to lack of finance, although it was agreed that the industry is lacking in this area and areas for development need to be addressed.

John Shepherd – Editor Ultra FIT Magazine

On going discussions have taken place between Ultra FIT and WGC (as well as the UKXTA) to try and unify the sport or bring a sense of harmony so progress could be made to move in the same direction. Discussions will move on throughout 2010 and it is hoped that Ultra FIT will play a heavier role in Gym Based Sports in the future. 

A New Sport

A new concept in the sport has been developed by WGC that includes scoring zones that awards points for finishing the WGC Challenge in a pre determined time for both the Advanced and Intermediate courses. The ‘scoring zone’

The format continues for development for Inter - Gym Challenges based on the above using Life Fitness equipment. Pre determined times guarantees only those of equal fitness race each other and receive points appropriate to their fitness levels. More details will be released during 2010.

The Hall of Fame

Several names have been added this year for setting records that need to be chased annually at repeating events.

Events 2009

February 2009 – The Camberley Ice Breaker – Camberley Fitness First

The first event of the year included the double row and was set in a school gym on a particularly cold day. No heating but an exceptional atmosphere. Lloyd Millichap the organiser was testing the water with this event, seeing what worked and what could be achieved by setting a low entry fee. Clients, friends and family turned up in support for those that braved the coldest day of the year, which just happened to fall on the same day as Winter Toughguy to which a few Gym Athletes took part in. It must have been very chilly!

Feb 2009 WGC – Gym Ironman – Gorton Fitness First

Kirk Gibbons gave the performance of the year in this very demanding course. Gorton Fitness First hosted the event and the event was well turned out, but previous year’s numbers were not matched. Gym Ironman may return as an Independent event in 2010.  

March 2009 – The Brighton Nut Cracker

Developed by Jamie Spencer and hosted at Corals Health and Fitness in club in Brighton. A very successful event which saw Chris Lord perform flawlessly all the way round and set a course record which went straight into the Hall of Fame. A harmonious event with an impressive local turnout as well as traveling from Gym Athletes throughout the UK. The highlight of the day - The Shoulder finish between Farouk and Lloyd.  

May 2009 – Fitness X – Luton Fitness First

Mark Drury again organised this event, which has seen airing on Physique TV in Dubai for the 2007 event. The event saw the awesome Chris Lord, fresh from his win at Brighton add another title to his impressive list of victories. Paul Chase and Laura Clarke gave impressive performances at the Intermediate level. As it stands at the moment no commitment has been made for another event in 2010. 

June 2009 - The Gorton Grueller – Gorton Fitness First.

Continuing its dominance as gym for X Training, Gorton and the X Training Committee hosted the second event of the year. Strength and weight issues tipped the scales slightly with the classic 60 bench and shoulder (the highest reps in any event) and Ben Stroud had an impressive victory finishing a minute and half faster then his nearest rival Kirk Gibbons. The treadmill run between Kirk and Richard Vint will be remembered as one of the best in X Training history. 

July 2009 – The Commando Course – Royal Marine Training Centre – Lympstone.

Attended by kind invitation from the Royal Marines, this event has to be one of the toughest in the world, which is understandable being developed by the fittest fighting unit in the world. Chris Lord gave impressive performances and went on to win the event. Exciting opportunities wait for inter forces challenges using the Commando Course as the lead event. 

September 2009 - The Ultimate Gym Athlete - Fitness First Chatham

No Intermediate event and double points for gyms those were brave enough to enter. This event forms the cornerstone of the WGC website and the timings achieved annually here go to those that enter on the day and take precedence over the Gym Athlete Leader Board. Penny Bunton and Steve Dowse hold the title for Ultimate Gym Athletes 2009. 

Neil Cameron’s time of 13:36 set in Aug 2008 still continues to be the fastest time. 

November 2009 – Battle of the Manchester Gyms – Fitness First Whitefield

A new name of the X Training scene, Rich Ainley, Health and Fitness Manager of Rochdale Fitness First stole the day with am impressive performance against close rivals Gorton Fitness First. The concept of Gym vs. Gym is being introduced to reduce travel to events and increase exposure of the sport. Testing the water at Whitefield gave a great insight just to what can be achieved by members in a fitness gym challenge.

Diary Dates for The UK Gym Fitness Challenge Series 2010

Feb 7th – The Camberley Ice Breaker – Fitness First Camberley Surrey

March 7th – The Brighton Nut Cracker – Corals Health and Fitness –Brighton

June 19th – Gorton Grueller 2009 – Gorton Fitness First, Manchester.

September 25th – The Ultimate Gym Athlete – venue tba. 

Personal Statement

 X Training continues to feature heavily in training programs for individuals who want to try increasing their fitness in a gym environment. It is without doubt a far quicker way to improve motivation and focus and results can be seen as times improve making the rise of the Gym Athlete and X Training a future growth sport.

Without results, its quite simple you don’t have a sport. It is essentially the single most important factor outside of the event itself and training.

WGC was set up to include a single database to record events and give personal folders for all X Training events. For the main part this has been done for free for the past three years; to try and give fitness challenges a boost and keeping the sport in the limelight, but the budget can only stretch so far and prices have been introduced to give WGC a footing in a tough economic climate.

Organisers have the final say if they want to see results published 'live' (straight after a race) or not and it is hoped that during the course of 2010 that all events featured on the UKGCA calendar and the UK Gym Challenge Series will see all splits published per event or within 24 hours if there is not a internet connection.

Many remarks have been made of gratitude during the year, but as the year closes, particular thanks go to certain individuals who have maintained a steady and supportive input into X Training and if I have forgotten anyone I do apologies.

Paddy Doyle

Lloyd Millichap

Andy Brown

Andy Lett

Rich Ainley

Mike Jones

Penny Bunton

Craig Horsfield

Farouk Vawda

Sarah Green

Jamie Spencer

Mark Drury

Simon Bellinger

Steve Mead

Paul Morton

Chris Lord

Les Barrow

Chuck Berry

Kirk Gibbons

Steve Dowse

Dave Hall

Sam, Jack, Manning

Anton, Joseph and Miles Micallef

To all the Gym Athletes in the UK, who continue to set standards in fitness which is incredible and to which others who do not compete cannot comprehend.

To Ian Stanley and Designsmart UK who continue to provide an outstanding service 365 days a year.

And finally to Jill whose input into the site and sport has been immeasurable with a full on commitment to turning up at events and entering splits as each race finishes, my eternal thanks.

There are roughly 5000 gyms in the UK with over 4.7 m members. WGC continues to work with just a handful of these in the UK. Those gyms and the members who compete in X Training are getting results in fitness, by competing against other gyms in fitness challenges, which is the only real way to test your clubs fitness levels.

'It is far better to soar with eagles - then scurry around with turkeys'

Without doubt the very best in the sport of X Training are featured on the pages of World Gym Challenge.com and I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Best Regards and all the best for 2010.

Sean

UK Gym Challenge Association.

PS – Remember the Camberley Ice Breaker is only around the corner !