Firefighter Fitness to start in Rochdale

Craig Kirby and Paul Doggett are starting up their own fitness company called Firefighter Fitness in Rochdale.

The company will run fitness classes for a range of people with the theme of firefighter fitness.

Craig said: “Paul had the initial idea and because I have done things like this before, he asked me to get involved.”

Having previously worked as a military fitness instructor, Craig moved into working with children and young people. He said: “I worked with children and taught them about fitness but all of the money made through that went back into the community. I think we made about £20,000.”

Paul, who is a firefighter and an ex soldier, currently trains new firefighter recruits in Greater Manchester so has the understanding of the type of programmes run for that level of fitness.

The classes will begin on Tuesday 1 April and are open to people of any fitness level. Craig added: “Once our first session is established we are going to run three sessions: A green watch session which will be for anyone of any level of fitness and then we hope to bring in blue and red watch sessions which will be for more intense fitness levels.”

Classes will be held at The Oulder Hill Leisure Complex in Rochdale and will include muscular endurance training as well as cardio training. Classes will be similar to those run by British Military Fitness but will have more of a "firefighter edge" to them.

“We have had a number of people sign up already and we have seen a number of people over the age of 60 signing up so it really does show that anyone can get involved,” said Craig.

Craig added: “British Military Fitness has around 250 places throughout the UK and we would like to be like that one day. We just want to do this one first and see how it all goes and then go from there really.”