The coaching team and gym members at CrossFit Cheddar Rising are celebrating a successful first year after holding more than 1,000 classes since opening in September last year.

Set up by local residents and fitness enthusiasts Nigel Biddlecombe and Jenny McNamara, the gym at Stanley House on Wedmore Road aims to support members of all ages and levels of fitness achieve their health and fitness goals in a friendly, supportive community of like-minded people.

In addition to their sessions at the gym, the pair also held more than 200 online sessions and various team challenges during lockdown, ensuring its members could keep improving their fitness and health when social contact was limited.

Both coaches are CrossFit level 2 trainers, fully qualified personal trainers, weightlifting coaches and nutrition advisers, and have helped clients lose weight, increase fitness, and maintain this.

Viv, aged 63, lost 15kg working with Jenny as a personal trainer and nutrition client.

She told Cheddar Nub News: "Jenny and Nigel's gym is for everyone who would like to get stronger, lose weight and boost their mental health.

"Everyone I have met has been friendly and welcoming."

Jo, aged 28, completed a 12-week nutrition programme and lost over a stone in weight.

She said: "I joined the CrossFit family back in November and needed some motivation to tackle my health as well as my fitness.

"My shape has completely changed, as well as feeling fitter in my CrossFit classes."

The gym is a fully equipped, fully insured facility with a range of equipment, toilets and a shower on site as well as allocated, free parking.

As well as CrossFit classes, the team offer cardio-focussed Blaze sessions, Olympic weightlifting, weight training, kids and teens classes, personal training and nutrition coaching.

Nigel said: "We've had a great first year at CrossFit Cheddar Rising, with membership more than quadrupling over 12 months and local people enjoying more than 1,000 hours of high-quality fitness training.

"It's been fantastic to see so many people come along, make friends, improve their health and become members of a friendly, supportive and like-minded community."

Jenny said: "I think what makes us most proud is the wide range of people that tell us they have had a great experience at our gym.

"We have people who are already strong and athletic hoping to fine tune their performance for sports, and plenty who tell us haven't ever thought about their fitness before and are starting to exercise for the first time.

"We feel privileged to have created such a welcoming community in such a short space of time. There really is a place for everyone."

The gym is part of a worldwide network of CrossFit gyms that share a training methodology offering a challenging and effective workout to develop functional fitness in a fun and supportive environment.

The gym is currently still accepting new members. Anyone interested in trying a session for free or discussing their own fitness goals can contact Jenny and Nigel on [email protected].

You can also find out more at www.crossfitcheddarrising.com.