Last updated 21:40, Thursday, 27 March 2008

A SLIGHTLY different topic this week, but certainly one that is very close to my heart and if I’m honest classes as a rant too.

I’ve read in the Times & Star about the demise of West Cumbria as we know it. Shops are closing down, trade is at its lowest and the people are suffering from discontent. Is it any surprise? certainly not to me.

West Cumbria for me has been on a dwindling spiral for years and if it wasn’t for Sellafield the place wouldn’t be able to house the many thousands that crave for jobs. Whitehaven has more shops closing down than new ones opening, Workington has struggled with its trade also.

Why I’m I talking about this? Well, it’s simple.

West Cumbria has missed the boat for a while in one of the topic closest to my heart and that is fitness. In this country, and the world, we have an increasing epidemic in obesity which is hitting the youth of today and of any age group.

We have the Olympics in 2012 and since the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, we have had a resurgence in young stars. But would you notice that in West Cumbria? Certainly not. Have we seen any world champions from West Cumbria in the last five years? Not that I can think of.

I understand there is a partnership that is set up to assist in the sports development across West Cumbria, to be honest though they must be very quiet because not once have I seen them advertise or promote their services in any of the local papers.

I’m certainly no world champion and I have never came that close to being a champion but I have one thing and that is passion and I believe this county has an abundance of talent. It just needs to be cherished and handled in the right way.

Rugby plays a big part in this county’s talent which is great, we do get many talented rugby players from this region but where are the other sports?

We need to bring other sports to the forefront also and make people believe in what they are doing.

Scott Carson played for Cleator Moor Celtic and its now a full England International, he obviously got there with hard work and dedication. It’s this motivational aspect of training that we should be getting across to the young people of today.

Being a volunteer is one thing and I respect anyone who gives up their free time to teach anyone, but we need people who have won things at the highest standard to come in and teach the young stars in West Cumbria.

We are always going to have the Lake District as the main tourist attraction of West Cumbria, but why not make Workington and Whitehaven the hub of fitness and nutrition? Host competitions like triathlons, which will bring tourist in to watch the shows and it will also place the two towns on the map.

Crossfit and Underground Strength training are huge across America at the moment and are working their way over here now. Both teach very different methods in training and go against some of the principle taught at coaching level. We should bring those methods in and use the environment around us to promote a different kind of fitness in West Cumbria. Call it something and give it the same American hype and before you know it West Cumbria is on the map as the place that gives you fitness rather than people from down south saying ‘is Workington near Sellafield’.

Sport centres and gyms can still exist but people need to be educated in different ways and by having some old buildings turned into specialist centres then dedicated trainers from West Cumbria will come to these in droves.

As I finish writing this I would welcome any thoughts you may have on the state of fitness in West Cumbria and I would like you to email me at dave.trainer30@fsmail.net

Let’s all get together and pull towards the same benchmark as Australia and bring out the best young stars of today. Let’s face it, Britain and, more importantly, West Cumbria needs it.