This weekend sees the second annual Suffolk Games held at Trinity Park. The CrossFit competition aims to crown Suffolk’s fittest team. Mark Heath explains...
WHAT IS IT?
CrossFit is known as the sport of fitness, and is one of the fastest growing sports on earth. It sees athletes tackle set workouts to see who can finish the fastest or complete the most rounds.
At the very top of the sport, the annual CrossFit Games feature elite athletes from around the world and attract thousands of people to stadiums to watch their superhuman efforts.
HOW DO THE SUFFOLK GAMES WORK?
In total, 60 teams of four athletes will be competing for the title of Suffolk’s fittest. They will have to fight their way through four set workouts – known as ‘WODs’ in the CrossFit community – which will test every athletic skill imaginable. There will be five heats for each WOD, taking about 15 minutes each. While most of the teams come from Suffolk, there are also squads from Essex, Cambridgeshire and even Manchester.
WHEN AND WHERE?
The Suffolk Games will be held at Trinity Park on Saturday, July 22. The first workout, called ‘Fran with Friends’ starts at 9am, the second ‘Strength in Depth’ begins at 11.40am, the third, ominously titled ‘Beyond the Threshold’ is at 2pm and the final test, ‘Twin Engines’ starts at 4pm. There is a special kids’ competition at 1.45pm.
WHY SHOULD I GO AND WATCH?
There is something undoubtedly compelling about watching someone push themselves to their absolute max.
Matt Brennan, of CrossFit GFP in Ipswich, who is organising the event along with colleagues at the town’s CrossFit ISC, said: “You’re going to see people pushing themselves to their limits – after 10 minutes’ work, they’ll be collapsing from exertion. From the spectators’ point of view, watching these remarkable people putting themselves through incredible workouts is incredibly compelling.”
HOW CAN I ATTEND?
Tickets are on sale online now at www.suffolkgames.co.uk or by searching for the event on www.eventbrite.co.uk. You can also buy tickets on the day. They cost £5 per person, with under 16s getting in free. There’s a bar, food and games on offer, along with clothing and equipment stalls.
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