University of Lincoln Sports Centre

Alfie Whitton

Profile

I’m a bit of a fitness freak. I’ve been training since I was 6 years old and since then I’ve been addicted to fitness. I am a former sprinter at Lincoln Wellington Running Club. I started sprinting professionally when I was 11, competing all over England. I was training up to 6 sessions a week, so the consistency was essential to performance. One thing that I realised from this time was that hard work and dedication were key to success.

What I can do for you

One of my main strengths is helping with weight management. I personally know what it’s like to be underweight and also overweight so I can certainly relate and help with both. I believe in focusing on short term, achievable goals and enjoying the process. My experience is in power techniques, working on explosive movements and being efficient with energy. Asking for help and advice is often the first step to making a change and I am always happy to help.

Specialities/Areas of expertise

• Weight Management
• Running
• Resistance Training
• Training for Competitions

Goals & Aspirations

• To travel more since I never get out of Lincoln so my first place, I want to go is Siena Italy.
• I would love to have two houses one in the UK and one in Italy
• To carry on progressing with the University of Lincoln

Hobbies & Interests

• Playing and watching basketball is one of my favourite things to do
• My team is the Lakers
• My current favourite player is Lebron James
• My favourite player as a kid was Kobe Bryant
• I love playing video games with my friends with NBA 2K and Dead by Daylight

Top 3 Most Impressive Life Achievements

1. I got a lifetime achievement award at school
2. Most improved athlete in 2012 at Lincoln Wellington running club
3. I already knew a little but spending the time studying Italian during lockdown – “Salvey, il mio nome Alfie, Ho 22 anni, Io lavoro nel Università di Lincoln sport centre”

3 Fun facts About Me

1. I was the only kid in school to fall into the school pond
2. I used to watch Lincoln city football games with the guy who does the voice over for the game show ‘the cube’
3. I have only been to one concert and that was Girls Aloud

Best Advice

Be your own person don’t be someone else’s idea of you

Favourite Quote

“God does not play dice” – Albert Einstein

Connor Taylor

Profile

Where to start, well hi I’m Connor you could describe me as a bundle of energy someone with unrivalled determination & focus. Sport & exercise has been a part of me for the past 16 years throughout this time I have done 6 years playing rugby followed by 8 years of kickboxing 12 years of physical training and 2 years as a PT I’ve always found that trying something new and stepping out of your comfort zone is what keeps things refreshing.

Now don’t think of me as all business, I’m all about enjoying time and having fun too. Give me and adventure any day of the week besides who doesn’t enjoy being out and about in the world. Life is about having fun and making the most out of what we have and that’s exactly my approach both with myself and my work.

What can I do for you

To me personal training is more than just training, it’s a lifestyle to not only bring about a healthier body but a healthier mindset. Everyone is different and no matter what stage you’re at the gym my aim is to provide you with a fun, challenging & rewarding experience throughout your journey.

So If you’re unsure don’t worry I’ve been in the exact same position as you, all you need to do is take that first step and I will assist with each one from there on.

Ready to unlock your potential?

Specialities/Areas of expertise

• Strength training
• Weight management
• Armed forces training (Air force, Marines & Navy)
• Gym confidence

Goals & Aspirations

To continue to better my knowledge within the sports & exercise industry to not only help people but to also pass on my knowledge of Personal training and inspire others who want to take on the same journey I have.

Hobbies & Interests

• I prefer American sports to UK, main interest for me is the NFL my team is the Philadelphia eagles ((fly eagles fly)
• Always been a fan of the piano, my family has a lot of pianists & would love to learn to play the piano myself.
• I enjoy travelling & adventures, one of my interests is to one day travel the world.
• An obvious one but training, I’m always interested in trying new styles cause there is always something new to learn.

Fun fact about me

• I’ve achieved a black belt in kickboxing when I was in my young teens.

Best advice

• A narrow focus brings big results. The number one reason people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go instead of how far they have come. But it’s a series of small wins that can give us the most significant success.
• When you quit, you fail. The surest way to lose at any endeavour is to quit. But fatigue, discomfort, and discouragement are merely symptoms of effort

Favourite quotes

• “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
• “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” – Bruce Lee
• “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “Good things don’t happen by coincidence. Every dream carries with it certain risks, especially the risk of failure. But I am not stopped by risks. Supposed a great person takes the risk and fails. Then the person must try again. You cannot fail forever. If you try ten times, you have a better chance of making it on the eleventh try than if you didn’t try at all.” Arnold Schwarzenegger

Mark Robinson

Profile

I began my fitness career in 2009 becoming a personal trainer. During this period I have furthered my knowledge through University and became a qualified weightlifting coach. I really enjoy working with people towards their fitness goals especially when they achieve something that they didn’t feel they could achieve. Recently I became British masters Champion in weightlifting and aim to qualify for European championship. I also plan to become fully accredited UKSCA Strength and Conditioning Coach.

I have been working here at the University of Lincoln Sports Centre as a Fitness instructor for a couple of years. My main role is that I write personal programmes based on individuals needs and deliver one to one personal training sessions, of which I have 10 years experience in. Whilst working here at the Sports Centre, I qualified as an Exercise Referral Coach, which I have 2 and a half years experience.

Achievements

I have completed an MSc in applied Sport and Exercise Science at Hallam University and had the chance to do some testing in the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. I previously gained a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Lincoln. I have worked in a couple of Gyms in Lincoln, gaining practical experience whilst completing my degrees.

I have various qualifications; Level 2 British weightlifting coach, UKSCA foundation in strength and conditioning, YMCA level 3 diploma in exercise Referral, Certificate Preliminary award in suspended bodyweight training, Advanced extreme kettlebell instructor, Active IQ Level 3 certificate in personal training, Active IQ Level 3 certificate in sports massage therapy, I also have a boxercise qualification.

One of my best achievements whilst working as a personal trainer, was helping a female client lose weight, shocking herself when she competed in powerlifting as a masters athlete – she qualified for both senior and Masters British competitions in the seniors, finishing 7th, which was very impressive. There is no greater feeling when you see someone achieve something that they felt was out of their reach.

How I stay in shape

I am a competitive athlete in the sport of weightlifting, I have a coach that helps me improve on my technical skills. The sport requires all round strength and great movement.

Specialities/Areas of expertise

• Strength Training
• Weightlifting
• Functional Movement
• Weight Management
• Confidence

Goals & Aspirations

• Future goals would be for me to become a fully accredited UKSCA coach and get more involved in research to help expand knowledge on performance and recovery, delivering informative information that may help people.
• I would also like to coach more in weightlifting and help develop the sport. One of the major changes that has happened recently is that weightlifting is now an official BUCS sport. It has a world university competition, so talented athletes could get a chance to travel to another country to represent both their university and country.
• Try and get more people involved in various sports and create opportunities for people from different backgrounds
• I might take a turn and move towards a more health and safety role, I aim to move forwards and progress in life

Hobbies & Interests

• Fitness – I am a bit of a meathead and enjoy power sports. I have been weightlifting for 8 years (Olympics lifts) I enjoying been fit and achieve. I like to be able to move well. This year I did a cut where a lost 10kg (10% of my body mass).
• Music – I listen to a broad genre of music which can depend on my mood, Rock and Rap would be my mains for training in general, I can listen to soul, classical, opera, grunge, pop etc.
• Computer gaming – I play computer games to relax and go into a different world, however it sometimes might get competitive.
• Reading books – most of the time it is based on performance and training, I am currently reading about hypertrophy.
• Boxing and MMA
• Rugby
• Olympics

Top 3 Most Impressive Life Achievements

1. MSc in applied Sport and Exercise Science
2. Competing for European Master Championship 35+ category in weightlifting 2015
3. Running the Lincoln 10k in 42 minutes and raising money for the air ambulance at the same time

3 Fun Facts About Me

1. Use to play the saxophone
2. I have met World weightlifting champion -105kg Dmitry Klokov
3. I have trained with current Olympic Silver medallist, Emily Campbell

Best Advice

Getting the basics right, once this has been done everything else will be so much easier!

Master the basics and remember it takes time be patient with the process.

Whilst doing a weight loss diet if you slip up, try not to dwell on it too much and look at the bigger picture. Out of the week it is just one day get back on track and you will get there.

Favourite Quote

“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable” – Socrates 469 – 399 BC.  I think this quote is important for both males and females.

Thomas Brannick

Profile

Coaching for 6+ years ranging from a Strength & Conditioning internship with Lincoln City Ladies for two seasons, 1-1 sessions & online powerlifting coaching.

My main interest lies in strength training, specifically powerlifting. I’ve competed in the sport of powerlifting 5+ years now & have represented Team GB at European & World level several times, most recently competing for Team England at the Commonwealth Games winning Gold overall.

What I can do for you

• • • • • • General fitness programme tailored towards your goals.
          • Fully customised training programme.
          • Hypertrophy programming.
          • Beginner & Intermediate powerlifting programming.
          • Technique overview of squat/bench/deadlifts, identifying breakdowns and how to improve.
          • Injury rehab & prehab.
          • Nutritional recommendations to aid sports performance.

Specialities/Areas of expertise

• Strength & Powerlifting Programming
• Sport Specific Programming, Strength & Conditioning

Goals & Aspirations 

Two of my biggest ambitions are to become a full time powerlifting coach & to become one of British Powerlifting’s strongest ever u105kg lifters.

Hobbies & Interests

• Powerlifting – I’ve been fortunately enough to represent Team GB at European, World and Commonwealth level, winning medals at each of these competitions.
• Food – One of my favourite things to do is try new foods from different cultures.
• F1 – I’ve been a huge fan since I was a child and was lucky enough to experience my first live race this year at Silverstone.
• Music – I send many hours listening especially when I’m training. My favourite genres include Rap, Hip Hop and Grime.
• Boxing – I’m a big fan of many fighters and greatly admire the physical and mental approach to the sport.

Favourite Quotes

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“The Devil whispered in my ear: ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’ I whispered back: ‘I am the storm.” – Adharanand Finn