About me

Sport has played a huge part in my life even from a very early age, I either had a rugby ball in my hands or a football at my feet and it remained this way right up to my first year at University. I played both county level football and rugby and also excelled at swimming and athletics.  I studied Architecture whilst at Manchester University where I obtained a BA Hons Degree. Even though my time at University helped shaped me as a person I knew that architecture was not the career path I wanted to follow. It was a tough decision to make but I have never looked back.

After finishing University I then decided to spend the next 2 years travelling the world and ended up living in Sydney for a year. It was here I was able pursue one of my life goals - to become a lifeguard on the world famous Bondi Beach for the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club. A hugely rewarding experience. Whilst at North Bondi I took on my first ever endurance sporting challenge by entering the “Cole Classic” this is a 2km rough water swim, one of the most famous in the world. Despite never swimming further than 800m I totally amazed myself by finishing in a time that placed me among the top 15% of 2500 swimmers. Considering the immense standard of the swimmers I was competing against I was overjoyed with my performance. This was a hugely important event in my life as it showed me that I had the talent to push myself to limits I never thought possible.

During my time in Sydney fitness became a big part of my life again which eventually lead me on to seriously considering a career as a personal fitness trainer. It was here I realised that helping other people to achieve the best for themselves was what motivated and rewarded me the most. On returning home then studied to become a personal fitness trainer and sports injuries therapist before deciding to move down to London to pursue my dream. This was 7 years ago.

Then 4 years ago a life-changing event occurred – I completed my first sprint triathlon, a day I will never forget. The nerves, lack of sleep, incredible excitement and anticipation, I knew this was the challenge I had always been looking for. It was incredible, a high that I will never forget I also knew that I wanted more of it, a lot more and in the first year I managed to complete the ballbuster duathlon, 1 sprint triathlon, 3 Olympic distance triathlons, and last but not least a half Ironman - a true baptism of fire.

Since that moment back in 2004 I have completed 4 Ironmans all under 12 hours, these have included Ironman UK, Austria, Florida and most recently France. It has an amazing journey of self-discovery with incredible high and lows but that’s what makes it all so worth it.

Most importantly this journey has not just been about me, I wanted to give something back to the sport that had given me so many unforgettable memories. It was clear after that first year that I wanted to gain the knowledge to teach other people so that they experience what a wonderfully rewarding sport triathlon really is. I have now been a BTF (British Triathlon Federation) level 3 qualified coach since 2007. I am also a qualified ASA swim coach and hold numerous personal training qualifications from ACSM to Paul CHEK.

I have also had the privilege to work at one of the finest health clubs London has to offer – The Park Club in West London for 7 years (www.theparkclub.co.uk) Where I have trained hundreds of clients to their fitness goals and also created the clubs first triathlon club. On top of this we regularly host 3 sprint triathlons.

I have trained and coached people at every level from someone completing their first triathlon, to training someone to qualify for the World Ironman Championship in Hawaii at their first attempt. I pride myself on being able to inspire everyone I work with no matter your ability.

Qualifications

-    Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Architecture, Manchester
  University 1994 – 1999

1. -   Premier Diploma in personal fitness training & sports injuries therapy
   

2. -   British Triathlon Level 3 Qualified Triathlon coach
   

-    ACSM health and fitness trainer certification

-    Paul CHEK programme design and Core conditioning certificates

-    Certified Metabolic profiling tester

-    ASA swimming coach qualification

-    Australian surf lifesaving bronze medallion and Advanced surf lifesaving
  certificates