Chalking Fitness (2024)

17/09/2022

Great to see a good contingent of adaptive athletes competing this weekend.

Good luck to them all as they head into Day 2

📸 from IG profiles where more credit may be available
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10/09/2022

Best of luck to all the UK athletes taking to the floor for Day ✌🏼 of the

There’s a fair few in the Teams Divisions as well.
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19/08/2022

Best of luck to all athletes competing this weekend.

In the Mens Rx Division, .h_ & are back after top-10 finishes in 2021. Absent last year, big is back to try and add to his 3 previous titles.

The Womens Rx Division has 2021 champ along with & with top-10s in 2021 & run outs at Wodapalooza, French TD & Lowlands since.

Special shout out has to go to the following athletes who step up to Rx after competing in the intermediate division last year…

📸credit where known: .photographie .photo_cumbria
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18/07/2022

#103 - It’s Five Times for Friel
On the podcast this episode is , who's season - after a painful start - now sees her returning to Madison in the 40-44 division for the fourth time. It’s actually the fifth time she has qualified (including 2020) in the same division - a feat not matched by any other age group athlete!

We chat about her journey into CrossFit, as a methodology & a sport, taking to the Regionals floor in 2018 as 40 y/o Individual athlete before heading to Madison as Masters athlete for the first but far from the last time.

We also discuss the role masters athletes play in the sport and more broadly the community - often coaches & box owners, with added family responsiblities - Kelly shares her thoughts on what could improve experience for these vital age groups.
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12/07/2022

As the sport of fitness goes through yet another crisis - I thought I’d leave this here (as I love an analogy)

For some, the sport is the focus & even the livelihood for the elite few. Of course, the quest for a fair & more professional elite sport is certainly just.

However for the many, it is the methodology that changes lives, underpins lifestyles & is brought to life by the communities found in our affiliates.
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04/07/2022

Congratulations to everyone competing Ragnarök this past weekend.

The Elites competed over both days & after 11 scored events it was a 1-2 in the Women’s division. delivered 7 1st places finishes and took the top spot, followed by .radley in 2nd. Fresh off the elite floor at the French Throwdown, took 3rd.

Speaking of the French Throwdown, .h_ built on his 5th place in Paris in style with 10/11 event wins placing him firmly on top of the podium in the Men’s division. First place qualifier takes second in his first elite comp. takes third & will join Evander on the Elite floor at TEC next month.
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01/07/2022

#102 - TEC Tales w/ Carl Saville
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Celebrating 10 years of , we sit down with - taking a look back & look forward to one of the household names in UK competition.

From humble beginnings in a sports hall to making the move to the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham - it was special to understand what makes Carl tick when it comes to events & the quest to return the UK scene to a colesium style venue.
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24/06/2022

Post live-semi finals blues? Let the entertain you this weekend!

Initial roster had up to 20 European Semifinalists due to compete & a whole host of UK-based athletes hopped over channel to join the fun.

With individuals in the Elite, Rx & Age Groups plus team in the Elite & Rx there’s folk on all arenas & you can watch the action live streamed on YouTube!
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23/06/2022

Congratulations to these 3 UK athletes who have all earned invites to the 2022 NoBull in the adaptive divisions.

- illness kept him from returning to WZA in January but he makes his first trip to Madison in the second year of the adaptive division format and will compete in the Mens Lower Extremity division.

is making a return to Madison having come 3rd in the lower extremity division last year. He’s the only UK athlete making the return trip.

qualifies for the first time competing in the Neuromuscular division. Diagnosed with MS in 2018, Leila finished 7th worldwide in the Open and built upon that with a 4th in the Adaptive Semifinals.

With only the top-5 moving on to Madison, all athletes had to compete in the Open with the top-20 moving on to the Virtual Semifinals
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20/06/2022

CF SiD Master Winners.
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We also saw some of the best age group athletes from across the UK & Europe competing
Up to 10 athletes battled it out over the three days - here’s those who finished top of their respective podiums.
📸 & athlete profiles
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19/06/2022

Starting my first Fathers Day with a cheeky drop in at one of my nearest

Thanks to the community for making me feel so welcome. Cara & Tim really are creating something special down there.

Yet to establish training regularity since becoming a Dad, so checking in with the community whenever I can remains special.
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18/06/2022

𝐂𝐅 𝐒𝐢𝐃 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝗪𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐔𝐩⁣
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With three event wins, .cancer / take the overall win.

, whilst having one less event with than the , take second due to consistency & never finishing outside the top-5.

& Team delivered six top-10s and round out the top 5.

SiD Origns Winners, , went into Day 2 in 4th & despite a 20th in Event 5, finished firmly in the top-10. were very consistent on Day 2, holding on to 7th.

can claim the biggest climb for the top-10 team, two top-5s enabling them to climb from 14th at the end of Day 1

Equal on points, , mastered the synchro of Event 2 & the heavy thrusters of event 4 for two top-5 finishes.

round out the top-10, who finished Day 1 & started Day 2 with a top-10 finished.
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17/06/2022

#𝟏𝟎𝟏 - 𝐌𝐞 & 𝐒𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐰𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐭 ⁣
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Link in bio⁣
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Prior to SemiFinals, I sat down to chat with of & High Performance CrossFit.⁣
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We discuss the changes in the sport since Ste's first trip to the Games in 2015 & how competitive programming can help to create structure, focus & reward outside of the changing landscape of the Games.⁣
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With JST Compete in their new home of High Performance CrossFit, we chat the intent of that centre & what it means for his daily coaching & training experiences.⁣
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Finally, as a man with many hats & plates to spin, we talk managing his own expectations, transitioning from a full time athlete to coach, business owner & father whilst still finding reward & release whilst training with some of the best in the UK.
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16/06/2022

SiD Stories…
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CrossFit Aylesbury’s Team TAP 10th in Event 1 was the lowest start of any qualifying team. However, anyone who ruled them out at that point was about to be proved wrong; with strong finishes in Event 2 & 3 firmly placing them in the top 5 for most of Day 2.

Team TAP came slightly unstuck on the synchro of Event 5 and with teams around them doing well, suddenly found themselves going into the final day on the wrong side of the line in 6th.

With Event 5 offering little headway against the teams above them, Team TAP would have to master the worm alongside strict HSPU if a return to Madison was to be a reality. The team powered through their last round of cals & HSPU, overtaking CrossFit 8020 & approaching the worm for the last time in 4th.

This put a vital place between themselves & Nordic Originals, and with Mayflower also back in the pack, celebrations began that they’d done enough!
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08/06/2022

Two Days Out!

There’s no shortage of UK & IRE athletes competing this weekend.

A few will be looking to make a return trip to the Games, whilst a couple seek redemption after 2020 invites were cut short.

Then there are those yet to punch a ticket to the Games. First time at Semis or not what they all have in common is years of hard work & dedication to get where they are.

Congratulations - let’s get behind them all!

📸 Photos from athlete profiles where more credit may be available
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07/06/2022

SiD Mini-Series #2 - CrossFit Witham
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Link in bio
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Now we head down the A1 & chat to the team from

Making it as far as Regionals/Semifinals was a long-standing goal for the affiliate - which they achieved last year & its awesome to see them repeating that achievement now we're back to live events.

Speaking to the team its very apparent that whilst 4 take to the elite team floor, its a squad and even community effort that makes it possible.

Watch out for the 3 CrossFit Witham teams in the Community Cup as well!
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06/06/2022

SiD Special Mini-Series #1
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Link in bio
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Bringing you a mini-series this week - chatting to some of the UK-based teams competing this coming weekend.

made the semifinals last year, competing virtually in the Lowlands Throwdown.

This year they’ll take to the floor alongside 6 other UK-based teams - and they’re ready for the worm, floppy or hard!
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05/06/2022

SiD Stats Preview - Elite Women
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Now to take a look at some of the women competing - again, I’ve used the Watkins Method to quantify top-10 & top-3 performances in major competitions since January 2021.

Without a doubt is one-to-watch not just for a ticket to the Games but also finishing top of the leaderboard. Having won Lowlands on the way to Madison last year, Emma was busy in the off-season - coming 9th at Rogue before winning Wodapalooza in January.

came 17th at the Games last year, having previously made it to Madison in 2019. She’s had a busy off-season competing at Dubai, Madrid & Rogue - accruing 18 top-10 finishes in the process.

is another Icelandic dottir to keep an eye on. Whilst yet to make it to Madison, she finished top of the podium at Madrid (which included 3 event wins). In this years QFs Solar had two top-10 finishes so lets she can build on her live performances to date.

Don’t let qualification spot fool you. Whilst Event 4 of Quarterfinals overly penalised Sam, in the off-season she finished 4th at Dubai with three event wins. With 3 top-10 finishes at last years Games as well she is a strong contender for another trip to Madison.

Iceland’s sled dog, also ranks highly based on recent past performances. The Games Champ from 2015 & 2016 delivered 8 top-10 finishes at last years Games to finish 10th overall. On the way to Madison last year she came 4th in Semifinals, with no event finish outside the top-10.

The 2021 season saw go all the way to Madison via the LCQ - where she took no prisoners & finished 1st off the back of 4 top-10s in the virtual German TD SemiFinal. 2022 was off to a good start with a 7th at WZA that included three top-5 event finishes.

We round out this list with another perennial Games athlete. has 6 appearances at the Games, including a 13th in 2021 & 9th in 2019. Thuri’s offseason was relatively quiet, coming 17th at Rogue, but her strong performance at Lowlands last year further suggests she can hold her own against any strong field.
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03/06/2022

#𝟏𝟎𝟎 - 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐭, 𝐒𝐢𝐃 𝐰/ 𝐒𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐬⁣
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Link in Bio⁣
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What better way to mark the Episode 100 of the podcast than to welcome Samantha Briggs!⁣
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With over a decade a the pinnacle of the sport, Sam is in her last year as an individual & is soon to be heading to CrossFit Strength in Depth to try and secure another trip to Madison.⁣
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We take time to reflect on the evolution of the sport over the last 10 years but also focus on this season, spending time training here in the UK & get excited to take to the floor with a ticket to the Games on the line one last time in front of a home crowd!
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02/06/2022

This weekend also sees the Adaptive SemiFinals taking place virtually.
There’s an incredible 22 UK athletes competing across 11 of the 16 adaptive divisions.

Top 5 from the Upper, Lower & Neuromuscular will progress to Madison whilst this weekend will crown the fittest in the remaining divisions.

—Upper Extremity—
Heather Upton ( )
Anneka Allen ( )

—Lower Extremity—
Luke Reeson ( )
Elliot Young ( )
Helen Scott ( )

—Neuromuscular—
Peter Davis ( )
Andrea Unwin ( )
Faith Fordham ( )
Leila Ives ( )

—Vision—
Jamie Beer
Jono Heenan ( )
David Millings (.miggo )
Henry Corry ( )
Chris Fair
Lucy Hodges
Bex Kenton

—Seated w/ Hip—
Ashley Hall ( )
Stacey Mitchell ( )
Elizabeth Foster (.foster26 )
Ellen Field ( )

—Seated w/o Hip—
Tom Green (.green.92505 )

—Intellectual—
Emma Robson ( )
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02/06/2022

Best of luck to the remaining masters athletes who are competing in the Age Group Semifinals this weekend - this time it’s the 50+ Categories

50-54
Andrew Livingston ( )
Simon Wilson-Storey ( £
Helen Macleod (.macleod_pt )

55-59
Leigh Coates ( )
Joanne McCullough ( )
Lynne Watt (.watt )

60-64
Colm McCoy (.mccoy )

65+
John Smith ( )
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01/06/2022

SiD Stats Preview - Elite Men
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Let's use the Watkins Method to analyse recent performances & highlight some of the athletes taking to the floor

sits head & shoulders above the rest in terms of performance statistics. The 7 times Games athlete finished 6th in Madison last year. Lets see if he can replicate the dominant performance he showed in the German Throwdown last year.

Whilst the 2021 season for was cut short by injury and he was much missed at WZA & DCC - however his one outing in 2021 was impressive. At Madrid he hit 7 top-10 finishes & finished 2nd overall against a field that includes 4 other athletes on the floor at SiD.

Injury also sidelined for the 2021 season, but he was back with a bang at the end of the year, coming 5th in Dubai with seven top-10s. Building further in this season so far, he’s the topped ranked Quarterfinalist, finishing 2nd.

2021 Games Vetran is never to be underestimated, whilst his run up to this SemiFinal has not been as strong as last year, in the offseason he racked up a 4th a Marid & 7th in Dubai with ten top-10 finishes.

Fellow countryman finished 6th in Quarterfinals and made it all the way to the LCQ in 2021. A Games Vetran of 2019 & 2018 and finishing 11th worldwide in this years Open, he’s one to watch for sure.

The UK’s is looking to return to Madison for the first time since 2019. A good offseason with an 8th in Dubai & 7th in Madrid gave chance to rack up some top-10 performances agains strong European fields.

Looking to make an immediate return to Madison, is certainly a strong contender for the top-5. Whilst injury required him to withdraw from Rogue he was finding his feet again at Dubai and with 4 top-10 finishes at the Games last year is a big-hitter on paper.

Finland’s rounds out this list. Also a Vetran of the 2021 Games, he finished 12th in this year’s Quarterfinals. With 6 top-10s event finishes at Dubai & 3 over in Madison on his way to 18th overall, he’s equally a valid contender for a return trip to the Games.
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31/05/2022

“Games Bound” - twice in as many weekends!

Video review seems to have taken place quickly for the Age Group SemiFinals & the UK & IRE squad heading to Madison this summer is growing.

In the highly competitive 35-39 division, makes return to the Games and this year will be joined by - a fantastic achievement for them both.

In the 40-44 division it’s a tale of two Kelly’s again with looking to be back to full strength, topping the leaderboard by a big margin. A solid performance from sees her returning too to build on last years podium finish as well.

Making a return for the third time, and the second time in the 45-49 division is - doing it in style, topping the leaderboard with four top-5 finishes.

In the teens divisions, .cf continues to dominate the 14-15 division with five top-5s including two event finishes. Lucy returns to Madison after 2nd place finish in 2021.

Congratulations to them all - get those flights booked!
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27/05/2022

#99 - Affiliates Assemble: Part 2
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Link in bio
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Back with another episode from the CrossFit UK & Eire Affiliate Gathering. This time sitting down with of & Gavin Heselton of .

With only 1% of trainers obtaining the credential, we chat about the intent of the Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer & how it helps to further develop a trainers knowledge.

Beyond this we also discuss the importance of continual development through a trainers journey, from giving & receiving feedback, to how things differ when you step from the gym to the competition floor.
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25/05/2022

Best of luck to all the athletes competing in the Age Group Semi Finals this weekend.

Athletes across the 14-17 & 35-49 divisions take to the virtual floor again. Top-30 from the QuarterFinals will battle it out for a top-10 spot & a ticket to the Games in Madison!

Here’s the UK & Ireland based athletes listed by Quarterfinals qualifying spot & any prior Games appearances! (apologies to any I’ve missed!)

—35-39—
11th - (10th in AGOQ in 2020)
22nd - (7th 35-39 in 2021)

1st - (3rd 35-39 in 2021)
12th -
25th -

—40-44—
1st - (3rd 40-44 in 2021)
2nd - (1st 40-44 in 2021, 2nd in 2019 & 2018)
7th -
22nd -
26th - .o.hara

—45-49—
1st - (2nd 45-49 in 2021, 14th 40-44 in 2018)

—14-15—
1st - .cf (2nd 14-15 in 2021)
24th - Hannah Wendt
30th - Phoebe Davis

29th - .gerring_cf

—16-17—
13th - (8th 14-15 in 2021)

18th -
24th - Matthew Bailey

Athletes in the 50+ divisions take on SemiFinals the following weekend.

📸 from athletes profiles where further credit may be available.

22/05/2022

Lucy Campbell is Games Bound!

Congratulations to all athletes punching a ticket to Madison across the Womens, Mens & Team Divisions.

📷

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21/05/2022

Start of the weekend done right with the community CrossFit All Or Nothing]

Since the first year I started CrossFit I’ve also dropped in at boxes - I’ve lost count of how many but there’s always a warm welcome & a set of shared principles

Posted • CrossFit All Or Nothing] Saturday Team vibes at the box! 🙌🏻

20/05/2022

#𝟗𝟖 - 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧’ 𝐓’ 𝗪𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐰/ 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲⁣
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Link in bio⁣
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Following a trip to the Games in 2021, .radley made the move to . But more than that, she made the move to Wigan & a focus on training full-time.⁣
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We chat about her journey with CrossFit, the trip to Madison & some of the frustrations with competitive CrossFit when you're giving your all day-in-day out.
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19/05/2022

is more than a Semifinal. With the return of live competition we also have the return of the Classic Throwdown.

Whilst there’s a Benelux Division, there are also Rx, Scaled, Team, Masters & Adaptive divisions - with a host of athletes from the UK competing.

Best of luck to them all…

— Rx Divisions —

keen

— 35-39 —

Allison Moom (not pictured)
Mike Legget (not pictured)

— 45-49 —

Richard Weir (not pictured)

—Standing Adaptive —

📷 credit where known: .photo_cumbria
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19/05/2022

UK & IRE Indiv / Teams at Lowlands
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It's Week 1 of SemiFinals with both individuals & teams from the UK & Ireland taking to the floor

In the Mens Division, .stewart will be looking to make an immediate return to Madison following the 2021 Games, whilst 2019 Irish Champ will undoubtedly be looking to capitalise on all the hard work training with new training partner Emma McQuaid.

Its certainly a affair on the Womens' side. Many eyes will be on after a good run to the LCQ last season & an even stronger performance at WZA in January. is no stranger to the Games arenas of Europe with multiple Regionals appearances & a Games trip with JST in 2017. completes the RedPill UK trio for Lowlands - whilst the season started with a team focus, individual performance is still firing and she is returning to SemiFinals for a second year running.

Three teams make the trip across to Amsterdam. have been working hard since last year & whilst all on a team together last year this will be the first time to take it to a live competition floor. on the otherhand, took their fitness all the way to Madison last year and, with only one team member change, will undoubtedly be looking to do the same again. Ireland's also make the trip RAI Amsterdam, with 3 of the 4 team competing in the online version of Lowlands last year no doubt they're keen to get under the lights of live competition.

Special mention must go to of CrossFit East Kilbride who earnt their spot at this SemiFinal but have had to withdraw due to injury. Keep your eyes on them for next year.

📸 from athletes IG, where further credit may be available
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Chalking Fitness

17/09/2022

10/09/2022

19/08/2022

18/07/2022

12/07/2022

04/07/2022

01/07/2022

24/06/2022

23/06/2022

20/06/2022

19/06/2022

18/06/2022

17/06/2022

16/06/2022

08/06/2022

07/06/2022

06/06/2022

05/06/2022

03/06/2022

02/06/2022

02/06/2022

01/06/2022

31/05/2022

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