So, with the year drawing to a close, how can we look back on 2007 and see how if X Training is advancing. Well for a start lets look at some of the rising stars of the X Training scene who made an impact on the year who keep the sport the exciting spectacle it is - without them - without all of you who compete at any level - this site would not exist.

Roll on to 2008 where the Grand Prix will continue to flourish and the launch of the regional's will start to take shape.

Rugby player Phil has made a huge impact on the Intermediate scene this year with his constant victories. Close friend to Sam Orgee and trained by Michelle Parsons, Phil has literally the best help in the country when it comes to training. 2008 will be a great year for the Open with Phil competing at that level. It just waits to be seen if the change from Intermediate to Open will be a tough one. If I was a gambling man - Id bet on Phil to do exceptionally well this year in the Open event.

Jamie has put in some exceptional performances throughout this year. Having a training partner such as Andy Lett on hand and the help of Personal Trainer Aidy Cartwright will always keep Jamie focused. It will be a very exciting to see such talent go on up to compete in the Open level and show that although still in his early days with X Training , I don't think anybody would argue that Jamie is definitely someone to watch out for.

Sam started of the season at the Ironman in Sale with a blistering performance which started to turn a few heads with a new name in the sport. Sam continued to go from strength strength throughout the season and had some really close races with her closest rival Nicky Humphrey. What will 2008 bring for Sam as she steps up at a mark into the Open?

Lloyd leads from the front by setting examples to his clients and improving in his times. He is one of the Personal Trainers who has embraced X Training and his clients benefit enormously from having somebody who is committed to them as he committed on pure dedication to training. Its not just a living for Lloyd its a passion - and to me that is the difference between a good Personal Trainer - and then an exceptional Personal Trainer. Hopefully a top three place in the GP Intermediate in 2008 will see Lloyd move on to the Open in 2009.

What becomes apparent with this sport is after it grabs you is it not only gives you the focus to train harder, but creates a sense of achievement and none so more with Andy. Having just spent a few months in the sport, Andy's times are already flying away and just getting quicker and quicker - Lloyd plays a role in this - but Andy is a classic case of you train and you get results and Andy who started of a close rival to myself has now leapt that one step further and got some brilliant times in .... dammit   lol! This sport is not just about winning it's about improving your initial bench mark time - and Andy is doing an outstanding job.

Steve trains with Paul Morton and is improving as the each day goes on. Recently at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Steve competed in both the Open and the Intermediate and both timings were quite exceptional. Steve has a great future and the gym he belongs to which I believe is Bannatynes would do well to appreciate his dedication to a sport which is focused on the Gym Industry.

Bianca performance at Hampshire caught everybody by surprise. Winning her first event in the Intermediate was a brilliant start to the sport. Little is really known of Bianca except, discovered by Lloyd Millichap and a brother Aury and mother who both compete in X Training - it will be a delight to see Bianca go from strength to strength in this sport - as well as her chosen discipline of swimming - keep your eyes glued and lets see how Bianca develops - this could be a very unique young lady.

Nicky has had some of the closest races with her rival throughout the season with Sam Saunt. Trained by Personal Trainer and organiser of the Fitness Extreme events Mark Drury, Nicky will no doubt continue to have good placing's throughout 2008 because she loves the sport and is determined to keep doing well.