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Location + Timetable

CrossFit Leeds

The Forge

Unit 8 Kirkstall Ind. Park

Kirkstall

Leeds

LS4 2AZ

Timetable and Opening Times

 

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Mike Rawlinson - Owner and Coach

After graduating from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Economics, Mike began a career working for a large financial company in Harrogate. After five years with the company Mike was becoming increasingly disheartened with his desk job and in 2008 resigned in order to pursue a more rewarding career.

 

While studying for his qualification as a personal trainer Mike discovered CrossFit.com. After reading around the website and watching countless videos Mike began incorporating CrossFit workouts into his training and rapidly saw consistent improvements in his strength and fitness. Mike started using CrossFit methodologies with his personal training clients and group classes who all began enjoying their training more than ever and achieving excellent results.

 

In August 2010, after many months of planning, Mike set up CrossFit Leeds to offer a well equipped, functional, strength and conditioning facility where people could go to get quality coaching and become better educated on how to improve their all round health and fitness. After 4 years of continual growth and building up a solid and experienced group of coaches, Mike went on to open The Forge, a 4,000sq ft facility in Kirkstall.

 

Mike prides himself on teaching his members proper mechanics in order that they can train safely and effectively in order to get the optimum benefit from their training. He puts his heart and soul into supporting the members at CrossFit Leeds and takes great pride in watching members consistently achieve new goals. Mike has coached 17 different athletes to compete at the CrossFit Games Regionals level and inspired 8 former members of CrossFit Leeds to go on to open their own CrossFit affiliates around the world.

 

Having a sporting background in football and athletics Mike enjoys getting involved in the competitive aspect of CrossFit and has been competing as far back as the CrossFit Games UK and Ireland Sectional in June 2009. Since then he has regularly been a part of the CrossFit Leeds Strength in Depth team, won 2 gold medals at the English Indoor Rowing Championships, and has competed for CrossFit Leeds at the CrossFit Games European Regional competition 3 times including a 4th place finish in 2011.

 

Qualifications

Premier Level 3 Personal Trainer

CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer

CrossFit Kids Certified Coach

CrossFit Gymnastics Certified Coach

CrossFit Weightlifting Certified Coach

CrossFit Endurance Certified Coach

CrossFit Football Certified Coach

British Weight Lifting Level 1 Coach

UKSCA Weightlifting Instructor

OLF Extreme Kettlebell Instructor

Premier Sports Massage Therapist

First Aid Qualified

 

 

Alex Heslop - Head Coach and Lead Gymnastics Coach

Alex moved to Leeds in 2011 to study at Leeds Metropolitan University. This is where his interest in athletic performance and passion for fitness began after participating in strength and conditioning sessions for team sports. He was introduced to CrossFit in 2013 by his sister and mother and was instantly hooked by the new challenge of constantly varied training.

 

Upon graduating with a Degree in BSc(Hons) Sports, Physical Activity & Health in 2014, in which he studied the health effects of high intensity training for his dissertation, Alex began working as a PT and Fitness Coach. He also worked with University and College sports teams planning and coaching strength and conditioning sessions before joining the CrossFit Leeds coaching team in August 2015.

 

Alex is passionate about helping people live happier lives using exercise. He uses all his experience to help people get the most out of their training and takes pride in seeing them reap the rewards both inside and outside of the gym.

 

Qualifications

CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

BSc(Hons) Sports, Physical Activity & Health

CrossFit Aerobic Capacity
Level 3 Personal Trainer
Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage

British Weightlifting Level 1

Level 2 Swimming instructor
First Aid Qualified

 

 

Rosie Plowman - CrossFit Coach and Pre/Post-Natal Specialist

Rosie has over 15 years experience working one to one with personal training clients and coaching group fitness classes. While always working to improve her own knowledge and experience, Rosie constantly strives to better educate the people she works with in order that they can get the most out of their training.

 

Rosie has been doing CrossFit since the opening of CrossFit Leeds in September 2010. She has dedicated herself to learning and understanding the techniques and skills it takes to become a great CrossFit coach while consistently improving her own physical competencies. She went on to complete her CrossFit Level 1 Certification in May 2011 and has been a valued part of the CrossFit Leeds coaching team since then.

 

Rosie enjoys the competitive aspect of CrossFit and earned a spot on the affiliate team that finished fourth at the CrossFit Games Europe Regional in 2011. Since then she has competed for CrossFit Leeds at more European Regional competitions including one just 9 months after giving birth! She has also won a gold medal at the English Indoor Rowing Championships and finished as the sixth fittest female in the UK at the annual CrossFit Central Manchester Games. Rosie has also enjoys competing in triathlons over sprint and Olympic distances and notes that her CrossFit training has improved her fitness and speed to make her stronger in all three disciplines.

 

Rosie believes in working hard for what you want to achieve in life, be it your career, fitness or goal of any kind. “If you believe in yourself, put the effort in and keep having fun along the way, you will be rewarded with great results.”

 

Qualifications

NASM Level 3 Personal Trainer

Level 1 CrossFit Certified Coach

CrossFit Kids Certified Coach

Level 2 Certified Triathlon Coach

British Weight Lifting Level 1 Coach

NASM Junior Athletic Conditioning Coach

NASM Advanced Pregnancy Training Specialist

First Aid Qualified

 

 

James Fowler - CrossFit Coach and Lead Barbell Coach

James moved to Leeds in 2017 after completing his degree in Digital Film Production at the University of Worcester. At this time he became a member of CrossFit Leeds having started CrossFit training earlier that year at CrossFit Digbeth in Birmingham, his hometown. 

 

After moving to Leeds, James found a job in recruitment but grew increasingly tired of the day to day mundanity of the role and knew his passion lay within the Fitness industry. A brief move to London at the back end of 2019 saw James take his first step into coaching CrossFit at CrossFit North London, before moving back to Leeds at the start of 2020 to begin working at CrossFit Harrogate. 

 

James began his coaching at CrossFit Leeds in June 2021 after 3 1/2 years of being a regular member of the gym, learning and growing as an athlete. He resonates well with barbell movements and has a passion for coaching Olympic Weightlifting, but thoroughly enjoys learning and teaching all aspects of CrossFit. 

 

With a background in sports including Football, Jiu Jitsu, Basketball and Swimming, James has always had a competitive drive and passion which he tries to bring to his coaching sessions and instill into the members of CrossFit Leeds.

 

Qualifications

Level 3 Personal Trainer

Level 2 Fitness Coach

Level 1 CrossFit Certified Trainer

First Aid Qualified

 

 

Tilly Salter - CrossFit Coach

Tilly has a background in team sports, having played football for Harrogate Town Ladies, as well as competitive Ultimate Frisbee and Cricket before taking up CrossFit in 2018. She was attracted to CrossFit by the social aspect of the sport and the addictive nature of learning new skills. For Tilly, through the camaraderie of training with other members in the gym and taking part in team competitions, CrossFit has filled the void of being part of a sports team.


 

Since starting CrossFit, Tilly has pursued her desire to help others by attaining her CrossFit Level 1 trainer qualification and taking a career change away from working for the University of Leeds to began coaching for CrossFit Leeds at The Forge. 


 

Originally from South-East Oxfordshire, Tilly has lived in Leeds for the past 6 years and following graduation from the University of Birmingham in 2014 spent time living in both the USA & Canada. Outside of the gym Tilly is a keen skier and also enjoys cooking, exploring the outdoors and DIY.

 

Qualifications

CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer

First Aid Qualified

 

 

Sam Wild - CrossFit Coach

Sam has been involved with CrossFit Leeds since 2013, initially as a member before beginning coaching in 2016. He has held a range of roles during that time which have allowed him to accrue a wide range of coaching experience in a number of areas; primarily CrossFit and weightlifting training.

 

He is currently working towards completing a PhD at Leeds Beckett University and is working in his coaching role alongside studying.

 

Qualifications

MSc Sports Coaching

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer

British Weightlifting Level 1 Coach

First Aid Qualified

 

 

 

Lucy Hack - CrossFit Coach

Lucy has been competing as a regional and national level sprinter and middle-distance runner since moving across from hockey in 2006. During this time Lucy has made finals in the 400m and 1500m, competing for Derby AC and Leeds Met University. A highlight for Lucy was making the British University Championships 1500m final, and having the opportunity to compete in the London Olympic Stadium. Having come from a competitive athletics and hockey background, Lucy understands what it takes to develop the necessary skills to train for increased performance.

 

Lucy took part in her first CrossFit Leeds class in March 2011 after being persuaded by her sprints coach to give it a try. She is now addicted to the training style, people and the benefits it can bring to a runner. Alongside coaching CrossFit and running, Lucy is in the 2nd year of her PhD in responsible business while also working as a free-lance personal trainer.

 

Lucy coaches regular CrossFit classes at The Forge and CrossFit Leeds alongside our popular hill sprints, track sessions, and endurance classes to help our members develop the technical aspects of each discipline, including pacing and periodisation. Lucy believes “CrossFit can help endurance trainers, just like endurance training can help CrossFitters. Combining the two creates some pretty awesome athletes!”

 

Qualifications

CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer

BA (Hons) Sports Development

Active IQ Level 3 Personal Trainer

First Aid Qualified

 

 

 

 

 

All photos courtesy of Paul Turnbull Photography, Leeds

 

 

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