The sport of X Training differs slightly from normal sports. It is competed by those that are 100 per cent motivated into getting fit in the gyms they train at. In that respect a certain breed of Gymathlete evolves and it's possible to write about them.

Henry V always springs to mind ... We band of brothers, we happy few .....

Steve Broadley vrs Simon Friel

I believe in terms of close racing this will go to the wire. It will be just too close to call. Steve who only started X Training last year when he entered this event at Sprint level has certainly moved on a few notches. A simularity between Lloyd Millichap ( who also had his first race at The Hampshire) begins as Steve has competed in the WGC event and knocked off 1 min 45 seconds and moved on from Silver to Gold status by breaking sub 17 mins.

Simon will be hotly supported by the local residents at the Hampshire as this is where he trains with his wife Kelly. Both were featured in a recent newsletter and both really love the sport. Simon came second at the the recent Dale Destroyer (Intermediate) and will be keen to continue his race history of podium finishes.

If awards were given for being two great newcomers into the sport, who compete regualry and are great role models - these two would probably share the title.

Ben Williams and David Lightowler

The last time these two guys were at an event together was Fitness Xtreme. Both have competed here at the Hampshire, with David having the slight edge on all the occasions.

How much has Ben trained since April? And has David been relaxing a bit too much? Who knows!

It will come down to who wants it most and as a former PTI in the forces Ben will giving it his all to try and make up on the two previous occasions.

No doubt this will be an incredible race.

Sean Blyth

This fellah cannot get by in X Training by his good looks only!

Unfortunately he does not know of the local X Trainer Mike Lockyer, but wishes him all the best when we race.

The aim of X Training for Sean has never been to win - it has always been to have the motiavtion to train, not to the levels that the top guys do but enough that says, today I went to a gym, did a good work out and can be pretty proud of myself.

What I have achieved at the X Training events I have entered is personal satiisfaction.

I would urge anybody who has not entered an event to try these type of challenges and see for yourself the many benefits it brings to the table . I assure you - you will meet incredible people and have a new desire in motivation to improve your own fitness levels, it really is an incredible sport.

Stuart Gilbert

Traveling down from Manchester will be a heck of a journey for Stuart, who by day teaches PE at his local Primary School.

A relative newcomer to the sport Stuart has found that since his football playing days have finished he needed a sport that would still capatalise on his desire to remain fit.

Stuart found X Training at Fitness First Rochdale where local manager Aidy Cartwright is a huge champion for the sport.

If Stuart is not competing, he can be found marshalling at events and his future in X Training at Intermediate is very rosy - but I see him moving on up a category fairly soon.

Cath Haines

Being new to the sport does not mean that you don't have passion for it already. Cath's first introduction to X Training was at this year's X Training meets Duathlon Challenge, then had a go at Gymxtc ™ in Kent finishing in a very respectable time.

Cathy's unofficial row time for 2000m is 7 : 28 so you can imagine what sort of determined character she is.

As a Personal Trainer in Andover and as one of the newest competitors' on the scene, Cath will prove to be a force to be reckoned with in the Intermediates and I have no doubt will move on to the Open , in maybe a year or so.

The introduction of new people to the sport is vital to continue growth and once they discover just how good X Training is - all of a sudden the penny drops as to what you have been missing all these years and you are hooked.

I reckon Cath will be at a fair few more events yet to come !

Kelly Friel

Kelly races club member Rebecca Marriott and as both train there this should be a home grown classic. Ty would not have paired these two up if he did not think it would be an exciting race.

Kelly's partner Simon will be cheering on from the sidelines as he does in most of the national events these two travel to including this year. The Dale Destroyer, Gym Ironwoman and Fitness Xtreme .

The platform is set for what will be one of the best races of the day for the Intermediates Ladies.

These events do have a majority male dominance that enter, but I'm pretty sure the standard of the female entrants as set down by the likes of Kelly will one day see an increase into the sport.

Open

Simon Cox and David Hall

Moving onto Simon Cox and David Hall in the Open category brings the focus more to the senior X Trainers.

Simon is on a bit of a roll from his 2006 time of 28:01 to his 2007 time of 26:04, whereas Dave , from Daves Gym in Surrey, will have hard work to do, based on previous times. Daves recent 2007 time (27:48) will mean that just over a minute and half seperate these two classic gym warrors and as we all know - anything can happen on the day!

Phil Talbot and Gary Nicholls

Phil and Gary are great mates and will relish the chance to race each other.

Since the Database was created for WGC, Phil has competed in six events, but is one of the most distinguished X Trainers out there competing in the early Ultrafit days. His best time for the Hampshire was 22:36 which remember included Bench Jumps which have been taken out this year.

Gary is veteran of 13 events in the WGC Database, his age is almost irrelevant as he destroys people half his age in most of these events. Gary's time from last year slipped by almost a minute to his previous attempt and ended up with a time of 24: 18 - but without those bench jumps, this race really could be something special.

It is wrong to mention the age thing - but not being to pc these days - ere goes - these guys are awesome - real inspiration and anybody who has attempted a  Xtraining Challenge will know exactly why these remarks are made.

Mickki Skingsly and Sarah Connoly

Not much is mentioned of Mikki. She trains out of David Lloyd in Basildon with the rest of the elite bunch of X Trainers they have there and has consistently over the years always performed well in the master class, often finishing in the top 3.

Mikki's time of 2007 was 28:12 for the Hampshire - this year without the bench jumps, who knows?

Sarah Connoly once completed 3000 sit ups for charity. For her slight frame she has incredible strength and endurance and this will be a very interesting race as both X Trainers also use Calso Health Club in Bromley to train at, so a little bit rivalry will also add a bit extra to this race. Sarah has to be favourite based on her previous times, but MIkki will give it the customary 100 per cent effort and fight every inch of the way.

Trudi Hawksworth

X Trainer of the Year nominee Trudi is a member of LA Fitness, Derby. The amount of podium finishes over her career in X Training is amazing. LA Fitness should take immense pride in her achievements and acknowledge she is the perfect role model to promote fitness within a gym.

X Training is a bit of a family thing, with her husband Lance competing when he can, and niece, Sam Saunt brief spell into the sport dominated the intermediate females for a short while at the tender age of just seventeen.

Trudi ended up joint third in the Poll Vote for X Trainer of the year, as well as WGC receiving emails about how dedicated she is in the sport and how she will help anybody, get started and train.

When not using the gym at LA Fitness Derby, Trudi often trains with Kirk Gibbons, one of X Training most established personal trainers in the UK and also winner of many events, to get that bit extra out of her training.

Since WGC started Trudi has competed in over15 X Training events which are searchable on the database and her time of last year in the Hampshire was 23: 50.

Trudi is in the Master's category and is without doubt one of the best female  UK X Trainer's in the country right now and a very good role model for the sport of X Training.

Point to note - Trudi is not only one of the best female X Trainers in the UK right now, but also represents the need to increase the female entrant into the sport. Not being the fastest doesn't not make you one of the best -  it just highlights the case of what you can actaully achieve in the gym if you put your mind to it and focus your training.

Chris Lord (Lordy)

Lordy has been in the sport for a relatively short period of time and as part of WGC commitment to see the sport of X Training grow, he receives free membership as a Royal Marine PTI.

Being introduced to the sport by Chuck Berry one of the longest and most established X Trainers in the UK and following in the foot steps of Darren Robson one of the sports legendry names, Lordy has very quickly adapted to the benefits the sport brings to the table. This year alone has seen three titles find their way to having his name as winner, including holding the title Fittest Royal Marine and that my friends is some task!

Lordy was runner up in X Trainer of the Year 2008 - a free vote - voted by visitors to the site.

The Royal Marines have always had influence over this type of sport due to their incredible fitness levels and this is where the sport divides into two categories - the elite and the fun runner. X Training to be used as a training tool for motivation in the gym is always going to be a hugely rewarding experience to anybody who enters an event - think of it as a Gym Assault Course. But there will be a time just in any other event or sport , that the elite start to shine .. and shining at the moment , at the top of the tree is Chris Lord.

Jason King

Jason trains out of David Lloyd Gym in Basildon. Much is said about this gym because it highlights the benefits of just what a group of individuals can achieve when they are motivated and inspired by one another . Nik Kandola another top ranked X Trainer and Nelson Anderson, would be considered ideal training partners in any gym, but these guys rally round one another on event day and urge each other on, just like they do in training. It's no wonder they have achieved so much in this very demanding sport.

Having competed this year at Tough Guy and ending around 30, Jason returns to the last event of the season having won the prestigious Fitness Xtreme in Luton, a title which evaded Lordy by fourteen seconds.

If everybody is injury free and been training to the level that these guys do before an event then hang on to your seats everybody this will be one of the best races of the season.