Gym on the road to body-building supremacy

Recent success stories from Fitness Connection, in Foundry Street, include 21-year-old Ben Green who ranked 4th in the Mr Universe competition while personal trainer and competitor Kev Taylor, 49, retained his first place title as Mr UK and ranked seventh in the Universe competition.

And member Martyn Crossley ranked third in England and second in the UK.

Kev said: “The reason we have so many successful athletes in this area is because of Fitness Connection – it’s as simple as that.

“The gym has grown up so much in the 14 or 15 years that it has been run by Moe Nawaz and Jeannie Ellam.

“The equipment is great, it’s sturdy, but it takes more than that to make athletes of this calibre.”

He said the support and the atmosphere was integral to its growing place on the body-building map.

“That’s what makes it. Moe and Jeannie could just take people’s money and sit behind a desk, but they don’t, they get involved. They want a gym that makes athletes that can compete and win these competitions.”

He said that was why Ben, who has only been training for two years, was able to make a splash so early in his career.

Competitors Michaela McDonald and Vesmir Duric both won their classses in their first shows in July.

And Kev said Daniel Harrison, Alex Larkin, Kizzy, Phil Vaines and Sally Knights were rising stars.