CrossFit Iron Phoenix team win gruelling Suffolk Games spectacular

Andrew Beckinsale gasps for air after finishing one of the events at the Suffolk Games. (Image: Archant)

Held at Trinity Park on Saturday, the CrossFit competition pitted 60 mixed sex teams of four athletes each against each other in a bid to crown the fittest squad in the county.

And more than 300 spectators roared on the competitors as they battled with four gruelling workouts – known as ‘WODs’ in the CrossFit community – which pushed them to the limit.

Athletes tackle some burpees at the Suffolk Games (Image: Archant)

Known as the sport of fitness, CrossFit sees athletes tackle punishing set workouts, with the winner determined by who completes the test quickest or manages the most rounds.

Matt Brennan, of CrossFit GFP in Ipswich, who organised the event along with colleagues at the town’s CrossFit ISC, said the day was an incredible success.

Rob Perry, Sam Halms, Ian Mills and Lucy Webb from CrossFit Gain finished second overall (Image: Archant)

“It was amazing, a brilliant, brilliant day,” he enthused. “From a spectators’ point of view it was competitive but at the same time friendly and inclusive. The athletes really put themselves through it, hats off to them.”

At the end of the four events, a squad from CrossFit Iron Phoenix, in Romford, proved themselves the fittest and took the title back to Essex.

A competitor tackles a tyre pull at the Suffolk Games (Image: Archant)

CrossFit Gain, from Norwich, came second, with a squad from T800 CrossFit, from Eye, in third. CrossFit Colchester came fourth, while a quartet from CrossFit GFP were Ipswich’s top side, finishing in fifth.

“All of the workouts were testing,” said Brennan. “That’s the beauty of CrossFit – people have so many skills and weaknesses to be tested.

Rob Perry, Sam Halms and Ian Mills in action (Image: Archant)

“From a spectators’ point of view I think the first WOD was great to watch and exciting, while I think the athletes found WOD 3 (ominously titled ‘Beyond the Threshold’) the most testing.”

Brennan is now preparing for The Suffolk Games mixed pairs competition at Inspire Suffolk on October 15, and planning three events next year – team, mixed pairs and pairs.

David Bowman, Maria Kislak, Kat Parnell and Luke Read. (Image: Archant)

“The interest in CrossFit is just growing and growing,” he said. “In 2016 we did one Suffolk Games, this year there’s two and we’re going to do three next year. We just want to keep it growing and getting bigger.”

Brennan is keen to get more local business and vendors involved as the Games continue to grow. If you’re interested in being a sponsor or competing, log on to www.suffolkgames.co.uk for more information.

The Mother Thrusters team of Ed Brown, Louice Chapman, Jackie Guwing and Sam Smith. (Image: Archant)

Spectators cheer the Suffolk Games athletes on (Image: Archant)

Fans watch on at The Suffolk Games (Image: Archant)

The Good Enough Team finished fifth overall - Nick Andrews, Heather Collinson, Tom Fryatt and Nina Doucette. (Image: Archant)

Rob Perry digs deep at the Suffolk Games (Image: Archant)

There will be three Suffolk Games events next year (Image: Archant)