The preparation? Well, it has taken some to organise. It was only 3 months ago since I entered my first X- Training event in Sale. I saw how they did it there and thought Id like to try something like this at Rochdale. I thought I’d set a  target of 30 to fifty people to try it, and easily reached that.

The next step was to get a sponsor on board to advertise the event and Vanquish did. They produced banners and created t – shirts and their backing made it a little bit easier and also the fact that I am an Instructor and Personal Trainer, I have basically pestered people in the gym over the last three months and in turn they have seen others here train for X Training like Andy Lett, Amanda Deane and Mary Ann Mcnerney do it in the gym and think, "Yeah, Id like to try that". So we took over the upstairs gym here at Rochdale and set the WGC  course up here and it’s been running for the last two months and gradually more and more people have asked what's all that about ? trying it and then signing up to do the challenge, in the end we had eighty competitors enter with a practically a full show. Some did drop out but were replaced with others, it is getting that popular.

Stash

For Goodness Shakes

UK Gear

Lucozade

Multi Power

Which gave it a very professional look and we were able to award some good prizes.

The day was superb. The Mayors Personal Assistant mentioned it to the Mayoress  and then the Mayor of Rochdale agreed to open the event, which was incredible.

Every thing today went very smoothly. The Intermediates had a huge turn out with really good support from friends family and gym members.

Tescos became involved and supplied the lunch, which every one was grateful for.

So for me today went smoother and better then expected and especially with the raffle prize with local business giving away many prizes

The entry fee was £5.00 and eighty entered so that was £400.00 straight away Around £400.00 for the raffle and then there were personal donations which will bring the figure up to near a thousand pounds.

Bringing that sense of community to a gym is what good X Training events achieve!

Annabella Weaver . I didn't’t think she would do as well as she did, she did brilliantly. We had a lady called Ann Quinlan, who is a former World Thai Kick boxing Champion just get piped by Annabel.

Chris Dempsey in the Intermediate a superb time of 10:31. I will try and get him to enter a national competition soon. At this moment he is not ready for the advanced – but certainly the Intermediate at the Gorton Grueller , I think he will do very well in

In the Advanced, a superb performance by Mary Eve Mcnerney who just squeezed victory from Amanda Deane

The Advanced Males. Well myself. I was really pleased with my performance. I was hoping for top three and got third. "Shabs", the guy I was racing is an experienced X Trainer and it was a great race- only a few seconds in it.

Obviously Andy Let performance was exceptional, just a few seconds behind Kirk Gibbons time, so he is up there. And really all the advanced did well – it’s a tough course, especially for the Advanced females – no matter what times they did they really gritted their teeth and my hat goes off to those four for really giving it their all.

Absolutely. The response from everybody has been amazing. No body complained about the £5.00 to enter, they knew all the money raised was going to Charity. The event was self funding. It was just a superb day.

Absolutely 100%. Kate Read  (General Manager) and Richard  (Health and Fitness Manager) are both here today on their days off. They have totally backed me. Kate entered today and did the Advanced and the only reason Rich didn't’t is because he has entered a body building competition and is carb depletion. But he did the X Mas cracker at Hampshire and came 5th so he is a very good X Trainer. The management got the trophies and Rich is hopefully getting an event here every six months.

Aidy, I traveled from Kent to be here . Every inch of that journey was worth while seeing the results of what happened here today. I just want to say a massive thank you to Fitness First and everybody who was involved in making this event possible.