The UK Gym Athlete dominates again.

The Event

The most successful XT event 'The Hampshire' reached its twentieth year with a packed house of over 130 competitors. The Sprint, The Intermediate and The Open were jammed pack full with competitors making the journey to Hampshire from as far as Scotland a very worthwhile journey.

Fireman, Personal Trainer and organiser Ty Whitlock from Virgin Active retires from this of this event after 20 years of very challenging courses and today the likes of Will Whitmore, Rob Volpe, Hywel Davies, come back and dipped their toes in the water again to have a go at this XT challenge and give Ty a fitting tribute to his years in charge.

The Venue

The venue was the same, but change in hands from Esporta to Virgin Active meant that possibly the negotiating table had changed a little and instead of the usual upstairs Studio, a complete Indoor Tennis Arena was made available to the competitors  and a fully booked three lane challenge sold out.

The venue was superb. large, airy and with music blasting out and a very competent race compere form the Hampshire Camp meant that on the day the logistics of transferring three lanes (plus a spill over) of gym equipment - rowers, treadmills, bikes, weights, Reebok decks etc gave a massive headache for Ty but equally a huge sigh of relief when all was complete.

What was obviously needed was the full support of the gym to make this event a success, one that all agrees with the very strict judging and organising and one that takes total commitment. Throw in the magical equipment 'Gym Member's' who are willing to pitch in and help judge , time keep and organise, then you have got the perfect combination. Without doubt the season's most successful event of the year is always going to be the Hampshire - one entire gym, totally united, orgainised by a very competent individual , with a final curtain call to ensure events such as this are remembered for all the right reasons - good judging, good atmosphere, good racing, good organisation and total input from the everybody else.

WGC

Again this year WGC was unable to publish results straight after each person raced and into Leader Boards which are published immediately online for everybody to see worldwide. Add to this everybody who takes place gets a personal folder of their split timings and a record of the event in their personal folders can be described as disappointing. An event such as this, much like Fit Brit has the potential to reach media interests and other gyms need to see just how well the standard of racing is. The competitor certainly wants to see their results and as soon as possible and the sport of Gym X Training would certainly benefit - having said the UK Gym Athlete dominated again and World Gym Challenge breaks into another area in the new year to create a spark in the sport - it has had to adapt to doing what it's website does best, publish results and the online market that needs developing.

The Races

Intermediate and Sprint courses are the backbone of the an event like this. They create future champions and give a very much needed focus point for many to train towards. The results of this is that as an event for everyone it is something that appeals to the those in the gym that need that something extra to train towards- WGC agrees weight loss important but as a results based website in performance, training in a gym for the Gym Athlete will always focus on that element of fitness. It just so happens that I achieved a pb yesterday and was very satisfied. I hope all those who competed at Intermediate were equally satisfied too.

There was again a limited number of female Open competitors which is always disappointing as this event creates a very 50/50 challenge between genders - basically something for everyone at any level of fitness. Established females from the XT scene, Trudi Hawksworth, Sarah Connolly, Gwen Fennel reigning champion of this course Kelly Friel all competed and all eyes were on local girl Kelly and the very determined 'did not come here to lose' and reigning female Fit Brit Champion Gwen. A close thrilling race all the way down the course with Gwen finishing first on most stations - but the weights were to be her undoing and Kelly who kept remarkable composure throughout  showed why on this course - and with these weights she was a very deserving winner.

Richard Vint won this year in what  can be described as race of the year, between Alex Woods and local Personal Trainer for the Hampshire  Ben Williams who has moved on up from a winning Intermediate in 2008 to a Open Race final heat race competitor in just four years. Alex who runs Golf Fit traveled down from Scotland in probably the best shape of his life and didn't come just to compete - he came to win. The race was just awesome. Three very determined individuals who wanted each to win for their own reasons. Richard on may occasion was last to leave some stations and had making up to do on the run which is his strong point, nobody just quite knew who was doing what when that very tiring 800 m at 5% treadmill run was in progress, to the crowd it was anybody's game.. Tension mounted and a very tired Richard Vint got off the treadmill first and completed his 40 bench press at 40 kg making him the undefeated champion and reigning Ultimate Gym Athlete for 2012.

The undoubted success story has to go to Ty Whitlock who competed all three challenges on the day - the first in full breathing apparatus from his local fire station and went to be crowned Ultimate Event Organiser for the 'Hampshire XT Event' for the last twenty years. From WGC and all those that took part yesterday I'm sure our thanks and gratitude for outstanding contribution to XT has to go to Ty Whitlock.

Ty Whitlock - Ultimate Event Organiser - 1992 - 2011