Profiles
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London Irish & Englad Rugby International
Paul joined London Irish in July 2004 from Bristol Shoguns. He has represented England at U18s and U21s level as well as playing or England 7s in the IRB World Sevens series before gaining his full England cap in the 2008 Six Nations. The Epsom born scrum-half made quite an impact in his 26 appearances for the Exiles in the 2006/2007 season's Premiership and European campaigns. He is a loquacious, quick-witted half back with the speed and power to cause opposing defenders problems.
Place of Birth: Epsom, Surrey
Sport: Rugby
Position: Scrum Half
Weight: 12st 2lbs (77Kg)
Height: 5' 8" (1.73m)
Former Clubs: Bristol Shoguns
Representative Honours: England U18; England U21; England 7s; England Saxons; England
Pro MMA Fighter
Ross has been doing Martial Arts since the age of 6. He started in taekwondo an received his black belt by the age of 10 before moving on to Judo, earning his brown belt. At 14 Ross started boxing until 17 when he found MMA and entered his first MMA match at 18.
Why MMA?
It was an easy decion for me to make because I have been intresred in combat sports for as long as I can remember.
Which Title do you currently hold?
I am currently the Total Combat MMA International Lightweight Champion, the Strike & Submit British Lightweight Champion, and the Ultimate Force Lightweight Champion which I would say are the best moments in my MMA career so far!
Who do you admire in MMA?
My all-time hero in MMA is Randy Couture. I think what he has done in his career and the way he applys himself as a true profesional is unbelievable.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals are simple really - just keep training hard, to get better, and to keep winning until I'm at the top level of competition!
Place of Birth: Sunderland, England
Sport: Mixed Martial Arts
Weight: Lightweight (70kg)
Height: 5' 9"
Age: 23
Record: 11-3-1
Fight Team: Sunderland Ju-Jitsu/MMA Club
Titles: Total Combat MMA Welterweight Champion (Semi-Pro), Total Combat MMA International Lightweight Champion, Strike & Submit British Lightweight Champion, Ulitmate Force Lightweight Champion
Englad A International
Nick joined London Irish Rugby Club in 2001 at the age of 20 following considerable success as a basketball player at Portsmouth University from where he graduated with a 2:1 in Sports Science. He learned his rugby at Claires Court School in Maidenhead where he played on the wing! He quickly proved his class at London Irish and progressed to the professional squad as an exceptional second row forward. He has made over 50 appearances for London Irish. Last season himself and Bob Casey consistently ranked as the most effective lineout stealing partnership in the Premeriship. He attributes his success to the influence of Steve Williams, Ryan Strudwick and Brendan Venter.
Place of Birth: Southampton, Hampshire
Sport: Rugby
Position: Second Row
Weight: 18st 11lbs (119Kg)
Height: 6' 8" (2.03m)
Date of Birth: 19/08/1982
Former Clubs: Marlow
Representative Honours: Bucks U20's; South West; England Saxons
Great Britain Professional Cyclist
Wendy is an incredibly accomplished Pursuiter and Time Triallist. At the 2008 Manchester World Track Championships she became World Champion in the Womens Team Pursuit. Wendy has been a professional cyclist for only 2 years and until June 2006 had worked full time as a Dental Surgeon since she graduated in July 1998. Wendy is currently in training for the Individual Pursuit at Beijing Olympic Games.
Best Career Experience
Winning the title of World Champion in Womens Team Pursuit in March 2008.
Career Highlights
2008 so far:
1st - Womens Team Pursuit - World Championships, Manchester
4th - Ind Pursuit - World Championships, Manchester
2007
World Track Cup Champion 06/07 - Womens Ind Pursuit
4th – Ind Pursuit – World Track Championships, Palma
1st – Ind Pursuit – World Track Cup, Manchester
1st - British Circuit TT Championships
Broke National Record - 10 mile TT - 19min 50sec
2006
World Track Cup Champion 05/06 - Womens Ind Pursuit
1st - Ind Pursuit - World Track Cup, Sydney, Feb 06
6th – Time Trial – Commonwealth Games
14th - Road Race - Commonwealth Games
5th - Ind Pursuit - World Track Championships, Bordeaux
1st - National 10 mile TT
1st - National 25 mile TT
4th - Time Trial - UCI 1.1 Chrono Champenois
1st - Ind Pursuit - National Track Championships
2nd – Ind Pursuit – World Track Cup, Sydney, Nov 06
1st - Ind Pursuit - World Track Cup, Moscow
2005
1st - Time Trial - National 10 mile TT
1st - Time Trial - National 25 mile TT
1st - Time Trial - Rudy Project TT Series
1st - Prologue - UCI 2.2 Danny Boy 2 Day Stage Race, 3rd GC
3rd - Time Trial - UCI 2.2 Tour of Bretagne, 10th GC
3rd - Time Trial - UCI 1.1 Chrono Champenois
25th - Celtic Manor World Cup Road Race
1st - Ind Pursuit - National Track Championships
2nd - Ind Pursuit - World Track Cup, Moscow
2004
1st National 10 mile TT
2nd National 25 mile TT
2nd British Circuit TT Championships
2003
1st - British Circuit TT Championships
Place of Birth: Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Sport: Cycling
Weight: 62kg
Height: 176cm
Born: 1974
Strengths: Womens 3000m Individual Pursuit and Time Trialling
Professional Mixed Martial Artist
Dave started his sporting career as a rugby player, representing England Schools and then the Leicester Tigers Academy before injury sidelined his rugby career hopes. Having had a keen interest in Mixed Martial Arts since he was a young teenager Dave decided to give MMA a shot. At 21 Dave had his first MMA bout.
Dave graduated from Loughborough University in 2007 and now works full time ontop of his MMA schedule. Dave has been using CherryActive since April '07.
Place of Birth: Dublin, Ireland
Sport: Mixed Martial Arts
Weight: 13st (83Kg)
Fight Weight: Welterweight (77kg)
Record: 4-0-0
Height: 5' 10" (1.79m)
Team: New Wave Academy
Winners of 9 Gold Medals at the Track World Championships '08
The British Cycling Endurance Squad have proved themselves to be the leading International track squad over the past two seasons. Having set records in 2007 for the number of medals won at the indoor Track World Championships in Palma de Mallorca, the team went even further this year and set another benchmark by taking home 9 gold medals from 18 events.
The team now sets its' sights and efforts on the upcoming Beijing Olympics where they hope to take the world by storm once more.
The team has been using CherryActive since January '07.
World Track Championships 2007
GOLD Chris Hoy, Kilo Chris Hoy, Keirin Victoria Pendleton, Sprint Victoria Pendleton Keirin Victoria Pendleton & S Reade, Team Sprint Bradley Wiggins, Individual Pursuit Team Pursuit (Wiggins, Clancy, Thomas, Manning)
SILVER Rebecca Romero, Individual Pursuit Team Sprint (Hoy, MacLean, Edgar)
BRONZE Ross Edgar, Keirin bronze Jamie Staff, Kilo
Irish International Sprinter
Paul Hession came to prominence in 2002 when he ran in the World Junior Championships and at the European Senior Championships, where he was the youngest member of the Irish team at 19. In 2003 he continued to make a breakthrough in winning the silver medal at the World University Championships. Paul twice missed qualification for the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 by a mere 0.02 seconds but competed in the World Championships in 2005 and the European Championships in 2006. He also backed up his World University silver with a bronze in 2005.
2007 was a huge year for Paul. In the Indoor season he broke the Irish record for 60m no less than 7 times, culminating in a place in the final of the European Indoor Championships. Then outdoors he ran Irish records of 10.18 and 20.30 for the 100m and 200m respectively. The latter time placed him 3rd in Europe at the end of the season, At the World Championships in Osaka, Paul qualified for the semi-final and placed 12th overall. He also competed in many of the top meets in Europe, including the World Athletics Final, 3 Golden Leagues and the 2 biggest Grand Prix in the UK.
Paul is currently taking time out from his Medical Studies in Galway to prepare fully for the Olympic Games in Beijing and beyond.
Paul has been using CherryActive since 2007.
Event: 100m/200m
Club: Athenry A.C.
Personal Bests: 60m – 6.61 (2007) 100m – 10.18 (2007) 200m – 20.30 (2007)
Achievements: 2003 – World University Games Silver Medallist, Daegu (KOR) 2005 – World University Games Bronze Medallist, Izmir (TUR) Fastest Irishman in History in 60m, 100m and 200m National Under 23 Record Holder in 100m and 200m National Champion 200m 2004/ 2007; Silver Medallist 2003 National Champion 100m 2007; Silver Medalist 2003 National Champion 60m 2007
Representative Honours: 2002 – World Junior Championships, Kingston (JAM) – Semi-Finalist 2002 – European Championships, Munich (GER) – Heat 2003 – European Under-23 Championships, Bydgoszcz (POL) – 5th 2003 – World University Games, Daegu (KOR) – 2nd 2004 – World Indoor Championships, Budapest (HUN) – Heat 2005 – European Indoor Championships, Madrid (SPA) – Semi-Finalist 2005 – World Championships, Helsinki (FIN) – 2nd Round 2005 – World University Games Izmir (TUR) – 3rd. 2006 – European Championships, Gothenburg (SWE) – Semi-Finalist 2007 - European Indoor Championships Birmingham (GBR) - Finalist (7th) 2007 – World Championships, Osaka – Semi-Final
Progression: 100m 2002 10.83 2003 10.53 2004 10.58 2005 10.46 2006 10.42 2007 10.18 200m 2002 21.03 2003 20.86 2004 20.61 2005 20.80 2006 20.56 2007 20.30
Local Honours 4 times winner of Connacht Tribune Athlete of the Year 7 times winner of Connacht Tribune Sports Personality of the Month 12 times winner of Connacht Tribune Sports Star of the Week 5 times winner NUI, Galway Athlete of the Year
Top Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter & Martial Arts Champion
How & why did you get into MMA?
"I began my Martial Arts training as a Judo player and alway did a bit of this and a bit of that and along the way I watched one of the documentaties on Brazilian JuiJitsu used against other Martial Arts in the cage. I thought that I could do everything that they were doing and the fact that there was a possibility of making money down the line the prospect of MMA seemed even sweeter. So you could say for the challenge and for a bit of holiday money!"
What is your best MMA moment?
"My most recent result at "Pain & Glory". Beating one of the top UK Lightweights in 3 mins has finally given me prescence on the UK MMA scene."
Who do you admire in MMA?
"In mma there are so many people who can be looked up to. I admire Georges St Pierre because he is truly the best athlete in MMA today, and I admire BJ Penn for his unrivaled skill level."
What are your goals for the future?
"Over the next couple of years I plan to hold one of the big Lightweight titles in the UK but before that I want to fight on the UFC - that would be a dream come true."
Place of Birth: Bournemouth, England
Sport: Mixed Martial Arts
Weight: Lightweight (70kg)
Record: 22-2-1
Fight Team: Team Bulldog
Acheivements:
3 times World Sport JuJitsu Champion
2 times National Combat Sports Champion
UK1 Lightweight MMA Champion
4 times UK Ground Fighting National Champion
Great British Track & Road Cycling World Champion
Steve Cummings is a British racing cyclist on track and road. In 2006 he came second in the Trofeo Laigueglia to Alessandro Ballan.
Cummings won the team pursuit at the 2005, 2007 and 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where he also took bronze in the individual pursuit. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens Cummings and the Great Britain team achieved a time of 3-59.
In 1999, riding for Birkenhead North End CC as a junior, aged 17, Cummings won the Eddie Soens Memorial Road Race, a handicap race open to all categories. It remains the only time in 46 years that a junior has won. He went on to take the British national road race championships that year.
His first professional win was in 2008, stage 2 of the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria.
Major Results
1999
1st Eddie Soens Memorial Road Race
1st British National Road Race Championships - Junior
2001
1st Team Pursuit, British National Track Championships
2004
2nd Team Pursuit, Olympic Games, Athens
2005
1st Team Pursuit, Track World Championships, Los Angeles
1st Team Pursuit, British National Track Championships
2nd British National Road Race Championships
2006
1st Team Pursuit, Commonwealth Games, Melbourne
1st Team Pursuit, British National Track Championships
3rd Pursuit, Commonwealth Games, Melbourne
2008
1st Stage 2, Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria
4th Stage 19, 2008 Giro d'Italia
Place of Birth: Liverpool, England
Sport: Cycling
Born: 1981
Premiership Rugby Union Team
London Irish are one of Europe’s top professional Rugby Union teams. Since turning professional in 1996 the club has been ever present in the top flight English Premiership, and has been a regular competitor in European Rugby.
Since teaming up with CherryActive in November 2007, London Irish have seen themselves moving from strength to strength and have qualified for the semi-finals of the Heineken European Cup (to be played on April 26th ’08) for the first time in the club’s history. The club continues to provide a stream of talent old and new to support the International game with players like Shane Geraghty, Topsy Ojo, Paul Hodgson, Nick Kennedy, Peter Richards, Bob Casey, Mike Catt, and others.
London Irish use CherryActive products after training and games as part of their diet programme in order to maximise player recovery.
Great British Weighlifter
Sport: Weightlifting
Event: 94kg
Age: 32
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 94kg
Personal best: 143kg Snatch, 178kg Clean and Jerk (Previous bests 157/185 before injury in 2003)
Commonwealth Games History: 2006, 2002, 1998 (England)
Main achievements: 2005 Commonwealth Championships, 4th; 2002 Commonwealth Games, snatch, bronze; 1999 World Championships, 21st breaking 3 British Records and qualifying for 2000 Olympic Games; 1998 Commonwealth Games 3 silver medals
Representative honours: 1998 European Championships – 1st GB senior cap.
Great Britain Mountain Biker
How & why did you get into Mountain Biking?
I started way back in 1989 and did my first race that year aged 13. Eight years later I turned professional and I have been racing ever since. I got into cycling and in particular mountain bike as I enjoy the freedom and the challenge and although some days I do not want to train again, in a few days I love to ride and feel lucky to do this as a job.
What are your best moments?
I have 3 big moments: the birth of my daughter Zoe, my wedding to my wife Rachel and the start line of my first Olympics in 2000.
What are your main achievements?
2005, 2002, 2003 National Senior Championships
2006 Commonwealth Games 2nd place
2005 European Championships 6th place
2005 World Championships 9th place
UCI World Ranking 19/6 - 12th
2007
1st National Championships
1st National Series Overal
1st Hungary Cup International
1st Alanya International
1st UK Rankings
What are your future goals?
My future goals are World Championship and World Cup podiums. My biggest goal would be to win an Olympic medal.
Professional Mixed Martial Artist
Nick started martial arts with Shaolin Kung Fu and soon realised it was the sparring element of his training that he liked best. On his gap year from University he went to a Mixed Martil Arts club, and really enjoyed the different elements of the sport.
After a few month of doing a bit of MMA and Kung Fu Nick switched full time to training in MMA, gradually learning the necessary skills and climbing the ladder in classes so to speak. He began competeing after 2 years of training when he felt he had grasped the fundementals.
Nick was successful at amateur and semi-pro so progressed to fighting professionally, training six times a week. He is currently undefeated. Nick has also opened up his own club (www.new-wave-academy.com) and is enjoying training some stars of the future whilst continuing to train and compete himself.
Place of Birth: London, England
Sport: Mixed Martial Arts
Weight: 13st (83Kg)
Fight Weight: Welterweight (77kg)
Record: 5-0-2
Height: 6' 2" (1.88m)
Team: Pancrase London MMA / New Wave Academy
Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Geoff got into rugby through watching it with his dad as a young lad. He started playing at school and Stockton RFC aged 12. He then moved to Durham School for VI Form before joining the Newcastle Falcons Academy full-time. Geoff quickly moved up the Falcons ranks soon becoming a first team regular. At only 24, and with England caps at all the junior levels, Geoff has a bright rugby future ahead of him. Geoff has been using CherryActive since December '07.
Place of Birth: Stockton-on-Tees, England
Sport: Rugby
Position: Second Row / Back Row
Weight: 17st (108Kg)
Height: 6' 4" (1.98m)
Age: 24
Representative Honours: England U16; England U18; England U21
Best Rugby Moment: Winning Newcastle Falcons Players' Player Award in 2006.
Mr South Coast (Heavyweight)
How did you get into bodybuilding? Always admired it from a far but my girlfriend at the time joined a gym so I had an excuse to join one aswell, at 10st 7lb I had a goal of 12stone... never looked back over 6 years ago now!
Who do you admire in Bodybuilding? Paul Scarborough, he helped me prep for my first show, James Llewellyn, Darren Ball.
Whats your best Bodybuilding moment so far? Mmm tight one.. either winning the Southcoast Intermediate over 80kg title, or the first time I saw veins in my abs & lats.
Competitions:
2006 Wabba Mr Hercules October: 2nd place 1st timers
2006 UKBFF Stars of Tomorrow: 4th place 1st timers
2008 UKBFF Southcoast: 1st place intermediate over 80kg
Barry's goal this year: To place top 3 at the British finals in October
After this season Barry will be focusing on bringing up his back and hamstrings and also overall thickness to make an impact in the heavyweights next year.
Barry is hoping to step onstage at the British finals in October at 100kg but even leaner than at his last outing.
Place of Birth: Epsom, England
Sport: Bodybuilding
Contest Weight: 98kg
Off Season Weight: 107kg
Height: 6' 1" (1.85m)
Age: 25
London Irish & England A Rugby
Declan was London Irish's Young Player of the Season in 2000-1 and 2001-02, having joined the Club in 1999. He has represented Ireland at U19 level, Irish Exiles at U19 and U21 level and England at U21 level and England A. He also played for the Barbarians last in 2006.
Still only 27 the highly regarded flanker has already made over 150 appearances for London Irish and is the longest serving member of the professional squad, he is assured of further recognition at international level.
Place of Birth: London
Position: Back Row
Weight: 17st 3lbs (109kg)
Height: 6' 4" (1.93m)
Date of Birth: 11/01/1980
Former Clubs: Ruislip
Representative Honours: Ireland U19, Irish Exiles U19/U21, England U21inc SANZAR (2001), England A , Barbarians.
Oxford University RFC History
Rugby has a long history at Oxford. Besides the fact that William Webb Ellis, the founder of the sport, was a student at Brasenose College, the Oxford University Rugby Football Club (OURFC) was founded in 1869, some fifteen months before the foundation of the Rugby Union in 1871, and is regarded as the oldest club in this country. Since its formation OURFC as played a significant role in the development of rugby and the various major changes the game has undergone since its formation 125 years ago.
The Varsity Match
The Varsity match represents the pinnacle of amateur and student rugby where two of the most prestigious universities in the world compete for the MMC Trophy (originally known as the Bowring Bowl) and the title of Varsity holders. The relative length of a varsity campaign compared to a conventional season is very short, adding to the ultimate finale, the big day at Twickenham. The journey to Twickenham is a unique experience endowing every player, coach and supporter with many precious memories and a spectacle steeped in tradition, pride and a culture of excellence. Despite the sometimes inclement conditions, the Varsity match is traditionally played at 2.00pm on the second Tuesday in December attracting large crowds, with 70 000 being the greatest number of spectators that have witnessed the Match live.
The sole focus of each University, irrespective of the matches leading up to that moment when they stand side by side in the tunnel for the first time, is to win The MMC Trophy.
Oxford University RFC use CherryActive products as part of their preparations in the lead up to the Varsity Match.
Contemporary Dancer
Lee got into dancing when he was 16 doing GCSEs at school. He then went on to study Dance at A-Level before deciding to master it at University, going to Laban Dance Conservatiore which is a contemporary dance school (and quoted to be the best in Europe), to further his training. This then lead Lee into auditioning for the schools company which is Transition's (the company he is in now).
Lee also loves to act having been to stage schoool when he was 8-14. Since the age of 5 Lee has been appearing in TV adverts, catalogues and shows. Lee says, "This also sparked another reason to for me to major in dance as dance was the weaker of my performance skills out of my dancing and acting; I have just stuck to dance ever since. I hope to refocus my attention back to drama after I am finished with this company. I will continue to dance as well act as they say you can never have too many strings to your bow!!"
