Fitness First Rochdale is quite simply an awesome gym. It has within it's walls a unique team of truly inspiring Personal Trainers, backed up by Management who support the efforts of their members to create a unique venue which is results driven. It could be argued that this is the case at all gyms - but WGC has not been to all gyms , but has been to Rochdale ! And this my friends is simply one of the best gyms in the UK.

It's hardly surprising that Fitness First Achiever of the year Amanda Deane trains here or that Aidy Cartwright creator of the Dale Destroyer X Training Challenge is based here either as what is very apparently within this gym from the off set is that it thrives on its creativity and focus on fitness for it's members - but don't take my word for it - here are few remarks about the club from one of it's members Dominic Boardman

It would be fair to say that Dominic truly loves the sport of X Training. A former rugby player and body builder Dominic found the joys of X Training crossed over nicely both with his competitive edge in training and his desire to get fitter. A lean period period in his life meant that Dominic considered his fitness very seriously as he turned 40 - weighing 15 and half stone then he joined Fitness First Rochdale to stay focused with training and lose weight.

As with all gyms the initial drive to be fit is very keen to start with - the trick has been always to keep that motivation going and therefore increase fitness levels. Entering his first X Training Challenge two years ago started that ball to roll and focus on upcoming events. His drive to remain focused has meant that in the years Dominic has trained at Rochdale - he has trimmed down to a very healthy 12 and half stone an is one of the most consistent performers in the Intermediate group - finishing 2nd in the Intermediate Masters at the Gorton Grueller and winning the Men's Masters at the Dale Destroyer with only 10 seconds difference in his previous attempt the previous year. As little as one second per transition - that is remaining focused and training hard. And that is what makes a Gymathlete different to a gym user.

Dominic takes his training seriously and when he is determined to achieve he will do what ever it takes and on hand to help are various initiatives at Rochdale - one is the 'T' group meaning the Transformation group and joining the Fight Club all of which draw upon a vast wealth of experience and expertise of Personal Trainers , Aidy Cartwright, Rick Gannon , Rick Ainsley and specialised training from former World Thai Kick boxing Champion Ann 'Killer' Quinlan. It is hardly surprising that Dominic has achieved so much and remains so focused when he comes to visit Rochdale.

Kelly and Simon Friel would be the Golden Couple of the X Training scene if the sport was flourishing- charming, friendly and determined to do well in the events they enter.

Kelly a relative new comer to the sport competes at Intermediate level as does Simon - both have great potential. But I think what you will find more with these two , its really not about the competing its the focus they have in the gym when training - something to train for and something to remain focused on - and on top of that - something that at the end of the day , they walk away from an event knowing that really achieved something on that day and that all of their training was for something.

Training together has been a bit of an issue as normally one trains and one looks after their two daughters, but always the keen sportswoman Kelly in her school days excelled at Hockey and Netball and finds time to take advantage of the Hampshire coastline and is a keen wind surfer.

Kelly's other interests are reading and can be found sometimes nose deep in the latest James Patterson (Alex Cross novels) and says her favourite actor is Will Smith and Film Bad Boys.

Steve's earlier days were dominated by rugby - playing to a very high level at school representing his county as captain and also competing in athletics where explosive sprints, high jump and long jump were his favourite disciplines. Dumb and Dumber (a classic top 10 all time funniest film) is his best film and when thinking that training his hard, reflects on the accounts of both James Cracknell and Ben Fogle in the book - The Crossing and then everything is relative!

Together the husband and wife connection works well for X Training as the competitive edge means that entering events together they both know the stresses that have been put into training for events and have shared the exhilaration in supporting one another as they race - as the remark made to the question -" How do you feel about taking part in these gym challenges ?" And the straight forward reply - "Buzzing!"

Rick Gannon has never entered a X Training event - but that is no bad thing , what Rick does is inspire clients at his gym with his vast wealth of knowledge in training for them. Rick has extensive knowledge in preparation and focusing on events and has several very successful clients including former world thai kick boxing champion Ann "Killer" Quinlan.

Rick sees the benefits of X Training as any good Personal Trainer would - he describes the atmosphere within the gym before an event as 'buzzing' ( a popular phrase it seems) as a knock on to the event encompasses the gym for one day - uniting the gym as friends and family come in to support members - and in that respect it shares a certain quality that transforms a club into a united bonding experience.

Rick's new venture United Kingdom Fitness Training Academy will be launched soon and he will train clients based on his skills he has learnt in nutrition, body building and fitness. For those in the Rochdale area Rick Gannon can be contacted on rickg6@googlemail.com or contact him at Fitness First Rochdale direct.

Jamie Fraser, trains hard and then some. A keen sports person who has always been motivated since playing for England in both Volleyball and Basketball during the years 1996 and 98. Jamie currently holds the WGC Team Event record with Andy Lett which will be very interesting when the Team Season Challenge takes off properly.

The Dale Destroyer has started the ball rolling in really mixing up X Training. It's nine events means that before you even start, all the training in the gym in the lead up to it would have been incredibly varied and exciting to prepare for.

Starting with the treadmill means that if you shoot off too hard too early it could well catch up with you later - taking it too slow will also play havoc with your end result. It had been suggested that this event may well favour the cardio side of things as four of the stages are inclusive of the Treadmill, Bike, Row and X Trainer but I tend to disagree - what makes X Training unique is it's versatility and one mans strength in one Championship event may well not suit him for another - for example when the Royal Marine X Training Challenge 'The Commando Course' takes place with its strict weight cardio split- and when I say weights, the ol 50 kg bench press comes into play again ! Then it will be a true test of incredible speed strength and stamina - but would the winner of that event win at the Dale Destroyer? Who knows - be great to find out though ! And so X Training takes its righteous place as unique - something that Sport England say is one of the qualities a sport should have to gain recognition.

The other example being my race with Graham Alexander - pretty close in the end seventeen seconds apart - but the early stages were a different matter - I was racing a shadow of someone who had blitzed the run and was whizzing away in what seemed like a purely one sided race. But X Training has that unique quality to it which means it's full of surprises and leads change constantly throughout races as one mans strengths is another mans weakness. And this challenge certainly capatalised on that.

The Dale Destroyer will be a firm fixture on the X Training scene for many reasons - one the creator Aidy Cartwright's belief in the benefits of X Training. Two the significance that X Training has on the X trainers that take part in the sport and three - well it's plainly obvious that at the top end this event is a fantastically well constructed course which is both challenging and unique.

The next event is purely a charity event , raising money for the British Heart Foundation and raising the profile of X Training in the process.

It is also a chance for all the Silver standard (Green Male and Brown Female) X Trainers to upgrade their status level to blue for Advanced time for Male X Trainers and Red  for females but to achieve this you must produce the goods on the day.

Getting a verified time in the only 'Gym- fit ' Challenge database will indicate to the rest of the world just how fit each of you X Trainers/Gymathletes actually are.

To enter this event its quite easy - just try the challenge in your local gym - get the time verified and enter - each race will be against someone of equal fitness and each race should be close and exiting to take part in as well because the crowd and the spectator will there for you at every step of the way in the giant arena of ' the orbital'

Take part in 'the orbital' at GymxtcTM

Gym X Training Championships 2008

to be held at Dance Junction  Rochester Kent on the 7th September

Closing Date for Entry 31 st August

(Special arrangements have been made for Gorton Time Trials)