Recently a combination of work commitments and sickness has meant that my Kettlebell training has dropped off to only one session a week.  My goal is to get back to training three times a week again in order to see a marked difference in my fitness levels.  Once I am back to training regularly at this level I would like to improve my technique and try to push myself to going up in Kettlebell weight.  I love the sense of achievement I get from setting myself a challenge, and Kettlebells certainly gives me that!

 

 

 

Words from Pete – The results Clare has seen are fantastic, to change your body shape, lose inches from all over and see improvements in sports really is a testament to the almighty kettlebell and the awesome benefits they provide. Clare always works hard and so I expect the results will keep coming once she can get back to more regular attendance. Well done Clare, keep up the good work!

Bristol Kettlebell club member profile – Claire Siggery

 

I started in September 2011.

 

Over the last 3 years I had tried going to the gym and I had also done a couple of half marathons. I didn’t do them because I enjoyed running, I did them purely to have a goal. I’ve never been particularly sporty and in the past had always looked for quick fixes. I was initially attracted to Kettlebells because I thought it looked varied and my main concern (at the time) was to lose weight.

All I would say is that the one thing that I have realised is that you don’t get results if you don’t push yourself. Pete won’t shout at you to try harder, but is encouraging to get the best from you. At the same time, especially initially, you’ve got to work at your own pace. You won’t ever be forced to do something you can’t physically do. You’re encouraged to do quality exercise over quantity of reps. You will work harder than in any self-lead workout you’ve ever done, but you feel amazing after!

Not a lot! I run for necessity when I’ve got a place in a 10k or half marathon, but if i’m honest I get bored. I cycle – to the pub and I walk pretty much everywhere.

 

 

When I started my resounding memory is trying to do the ‘Turkish get up’ for the first time. I couldn’t even hold a 6k bell over my head for the duration of the exercise – so I had to do it without! I’m still not on a heavy weight, but I now work with an 8k for that exercise. I’ve also lost about half a stone and with Pete’s nutritional advice, even when I had a break from illness and a holiday, I kept it off. It completely changes your outlook on fitness and health.

You feel leaner, fitter, stronger. Best of all, on the days you train you sleep like a baby, waking up feeling energised – if not a little achy in the early days!

I was so focused on weight loss initially, but after a few session you soon realise that it’s about being healthy and not skinny. I’m definitely not skinny and I’m much happier about the shape of my body and it feels good that I’m doing things the correct way and not by starving myself which clearly does not work!

 I use 8k for turkish get ups and presses. Then for the other exercises and swings i’ll use anything from a 10-16k… i’m normally the one with 3 or 4 bells by my feet!

 

 

I want to get my upper body strength up, so I can press a larger weight. Also, I would like to start swinging with larger weights.

 

 

 

Words from Pete – Usually when on holiday we tend to over eat and put on half a stone, in Claire’s case (and many of my other clients) she had her holiday and avoided this situation altogether. This is because her metabolic rate is now higher than what it used to be, so she naturally burns more calories at rest than previously. This is a major benefit of kettlebell training and can’t be touched by other forms of training. The fat loss battle will happen much easier when the metabolism high all the time. Claire took time out recently to complete the Bath half, I am glad to see her back in the sessions getting stronger and working hard.

 

 

If you would like to get involved with the club click here and sign up to the intro class.

 

 

 

This past weekend we had the club’s inaugural  twice yearly strongman/woman contest. 8 members (4 female and 4 male) who have been with the club for varying degrees of time showed up in anticipation of winning the prestigious title of Bristol Kettlebell clubs strongest man or woman.

This was the line up :-

Huw Davey

Conway Leamen

John Burns

Paul Doddrell

Sam Murray

Glynis Moss

Annie Smith

Julie Haydon

 

The contest is a test of static strength with classic lifts such as the deadlift, overhead press and squat, but also has events that test our athletes overall conditioning such as the medley, sled pull and farmers walk.

There were 6 events of which details are below.

1. Deadlift – As many reps as possible inside 90 seconds – Men use – 2x32kg and Ladies – 2x24kg
2. Military press – As many reps as possible inside 90 seconds – Men use 2x20kg and Ladies 2x12kg
3. Front Squat – As many reps as possible inside 90 seconds – Men use 2x24kg and Ladies 2x16kg
4. Kettlebell sled drag – Pull the loaded sled over a distance of 25 metres in the quickest time – Men pull 76kg and Ladies pull 52kg
5. Kettlebell Medley – Move 3 heavy bells from bottom to top of a hill in the quickest time – Men 3 x 28g and Ladies 3 x 20kg
6. Farmers walk – Furthest distance covered in 2 mins wins – Men 2x32kg and Ladies 2x24kg

 

 

 

Winning an event gets you 10 points, second place – 9 points, 3rd place – 8 points and 4th place gets 7 points. In the case of a tie the points are shared.

Here are the results at the end of each event.

Deadlift

Winner – Huw with 57 reps

Conway – 50 reps

John – 48 reps

Paul – 38 reps

Winner – Sam with 34 reps

Annie – 31 reps

Julie – 29 reps

Glynis – 25 reps

Military press

Winner – Huw with 25 reps

Conway – 23 reps

Paul – 15 reps

John – 14 reps

Winner – Sam with 17 reps

Annie – 11 reps

Julie – 7 reps

Glynis - Forfeited

Front squat

Winner – Huw/Conway (tie) 22 reps

Paul – 17 reps

John – 16 reps

Winner – Sam with 30 reps

Annie/Julie (tie) – 15 reps

Glynis – 10 reps

Sled Drag

Winner – Paul with a time of 30.18 seconds

John Burns – 30.22

Conway – 30.55

Huw – 43.03

Winner – Sam with a time of 28 seconds

Annie – 51.04

Glynis – 56.00

Julie – 107.42

Medley

Winner – John with a time of 43 seconds

Huw – 44.85

Conway – 46.23

Paul – 47.30

Winner – Sam with a time of 43 seconds

Annie – 50.42

Julie – 53.85

Glynis – 55.35

Farmers Walk

Winner – Conway completed 10 lengths in the 2 min time frame

John – Just short of 10 lengths in the allotted time.

Huw – 6.5 lengths

Paul – 6 lengths

Winner – Sam completed 9 and 3/4 lengths in 2 mins

Glynis – 8 lengths

Annie – 6.5 lengths

Julie – 5 lengths

 

 

 

 

 

 

The contest had events that none of the athletes had tried before so the element of surprise was always there.
Also some of the athletes had not even lifted this much weight in training so there was a lot of uncertainty going in. However they all stepped up to the mark and performed brilliantly. At the end of the contest this is how the points went down.

 

Men

Huw davey and Conway Leamen tied for first place so a tiebreaker event was held to decide the winner.  The event was the iron cross which involves holding kettlebells on the end of your arms but in a cross position so the arms are at right angles to the body. Huw Davey managed to hold on 15 seconds longer than Conway so in the end the title went to Huw with an over all score of 55 points. Well done Huw!!

 

 

 

So 2nd place went to Conway Leamen with 54 points

 

 

 

 

In 3rd place was John Burns with 51 points

 

 

 

 

Landing in 4th place was Paul Doddrell with 48 points

 

A fantastic effort from the men and a very close contest which could have gone to any of them given the conditions on the day. (There was a hail storm half way through). I hope they will all be back in September to once again fight for the title of Bristol Kettlebell clubs strongest man.

 

Women

 

The winner of the ladies was Sam Murray who cleaned up winning every event, therefore a maximum total of 60 points. Well done Sam!!

 

 

 

2nd place went to Annie Smith who totaled 53 points

 

 

 

And landing in 3rd place was Julie Haydon with a total of 47 points

 

 

 

Fourth place went to Glynis Moss who totaled 39 points

 

I am very proud of the ladies, they have shown and continue to show that you can indeed lift heavy stuff and not get bulky muscle, which is a common myth that still seems to prevail. They all stepped up to the plate and over delivered on their own expectations and mine. Guys watch out, it won’t be long and they will be kicking your asses all over the place!

There were a few members who could not attend for the event, Sarah Stribling, Trineta Watson Tripp, Ali Cape, Vikki Hill, Linda McEntee, Agneta Forsberg and Claire Wilson would have been contenders, likewise in the mens division, John Evans, Graham Duncan, Robert Healy, Dave Thompson, Ian Coop, John Bassi, and Chris Coles could all have made it a very different story. Maybe in September eh peeps??!!

Here are a few more pictures from the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to get involved with the club click here and get signed up to the intro class.

 

Regards

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So 8 weeks on from the last fitness test and some very impressive numbers being put up. Lots of members moving up in weight which is great to see, Graham Duncan is the first to have a go with a 20kg moving up from the 16kg and lots of the ladies now snatching the 14kg bell. We have had some new members to the club testing for the first time, Chris Coles scores a massive 265 with the 16kg, definitely ready for the 20kg next time Chris! Technique is much improved and clearly strength and conditioning is better too. Great work everyone!

Here is how the leader board looks now.

24kg Category

Conway Leamen – 190
Huw Davey – 141

20kg Category

Grahame Duncan – 183

16kg Category

Chris Coles – 265
Robert Healy – 245
John Bassi – 219
John Burns – 211
Dave Thompson – 210

14kg Category

Paul Doddrell – 221
Neil Crawford – 220
Linda Mcentee – 216
Agneta Forsberg – 215
Ali Cape – 210
Sam Murray – 206
Mike Leigh – 206
Sarah Stribling – 191
Claire Wilson – 165

12kg Category

Vikki Hill – 240
Trineta Watson Tripp – 235
Andy Farqhuarson – 235
Ben Waterton – 225
Tim Bond – 220

10kg Category

Glynis Moss – 227
Kay Rutherford – 223
Annie Smith – 217
Julie Haydon – 214
Jane Youngs – 210
Jessica Huzzey – 205
Erica Dowdell – 187

8kg Category

Katie Stryjewski – 276
Claire Chisholm – 260
Jane Antrobus – 245
Kathy Burgess – 243
Kristen Beausang – 221
Mary Martin – 221
Julie Baldwin – 219
Claire Bullock – 214
Jenny Kenning – 205
Julie Barrett – 205
Heather Wilmot – 180
Claire Miles – 160

So there we have it, some great improvements. Well done to all who took part. You are now much fitter and stronger than you were 8 weeks ago and this is the proof!

Speak soon

Pete

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