Our Coaches

Iain Barbour - Owner of CrossFit Glasgow

I stumbled upon CrossFit in the mid-2000s in Dubai, at this point I had given up sport and fallen into a bodybuilding routine. Due to the repetitive nature of the program, I struggled with motivation and gained weight. I had no goals and no metrics, then one day, what was meant to be a fun game of 7’s showed the need for a more dynamic approach to fitness. I felt trapped in my body. It took one CrossFit workout to change my perception of fitness, it was different, fun and I could measure my progress. I was hooked.

Gavin Heselton - Owner of CrossFit Glasgow

I was introduced to CrossFit by Iain back in 2008. We trained every day in a conventional commercial gym, drawing funny looks from the other gym members as we commandeered piles of equipment for our workouts. We followed the workout of the day on CrossFit.com, adapting the movements to accommodate what was available to us at the time. Immediately I was blown away by the sheer depth of knowledge on training that was available on CrossFit.com and it opened my mind to a whole world of possibilities - through practice and coaching I would be able to do things that I had only seen at the Olympics. I changed the way that I looked at exercise, training and nutrition and got into the best shape of my life. At 40 years of age I can perform physical feats that other men my age find inconceivable - and I’m not even considered good at it!

Colette Will - Head Trainer

My introduction to the world of CrossFit was initially through teaching weightlifting classes at CFG. I experienced a setback in 2014 when I didn't qualify for the Commonwealth Games in weightlifting. Craving a change and a new challenge, I ventured into the realm of CrossFit, and what a challenging journey it has turned out to be! The sport has not only offered a fresh perspective but has become an integral part of my life. Engaging in both coaching and competitive endeavors within the CrossFit community has not only provided a renewed sense of purpose but has also proven to be immensely fulfilling.

Sarah Allan - Head Trainer

Following a knee reconstruction at the end of playing badminton to a high level, I began working out alone in a global gym. Whilst it kept me fit after sport, it eventually made me realise there must be more out there. I found it very lonely and boring. I remember the day I walked into CrossFit Glasgow and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was scary to try a class but after the workout I was so excited about the like-minded community, the physical push I got, the knowledge I learned and I just couldn’t wait to come back for more. That was 2015, and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

Niko Gergov - Assistant Head Trainer

I found CrossFit (or a version of it) when I was training mixed martial arts back home in Bulgaria. It was an old gym with minimum equipment that was twice my age. That’s where and when I learnt humility and hard work, as that was the only way you can get a seat at the table. At the time I was way better at the conditioning sessions, than the wrestling/boxing training and I kept hearing the word ‘CrossFit’ being thrown about. That made me look it up and after moving to the UK I started looking for a CrossFit gym. When I came to Glasgow 7 years ago, I went straight to CFG and was pretty much signed up before I even got there. It’s one of the best decisions I have made.

Fraser Lynes - Trainer

I first came to the gym to pick up my brother but got there early and joined in with his workout. I did terribly and I'm pretty sure I fainted outside afterward. I started CrossFit because I hated that my brother was better than me and I saw how a more general fitness could improve my gymnastics. After 15 years of repetitive and very specific training, I thought it was really cool that I could come to CrossFit daily and never do the same workout twice. I became a Trainer because I believe I have a deep appreciation for the difference that a good coach can make to people's lives, not just to their performance. I always want to coach classes in the affiliate because I love helping people become the best version of themselves. Looking ahead, I hope to compete on a team at the semi-final level, travel the world taking seminars as I do with The Gymnastics Course, on which I am a member of staff.

Andrew Cox - Trainer

I played rugby to a reasonably high level. When I was finished with rugby I still wanted to let my competitive energy out. When I watched the CrossFit Games for the first time I knew I had to try it! I bumped and bruised myself learning double unders and handstand walks in my back garden. When it was time for University, I made sure to choose one that was within walking distance of a CrossiFt Gym - and CFG was the obvious choice. As soon as I joined I knew that I would be doing it for a long time.

Elize McCulloch - Trainer

After months of hearing my mum talk about this crazy thing called CrossFit, I decided it was time to finally put an end to her nagging and sign up to a class. I hated my first class, and my second and a good few after that too but after some focus on lifting barbells, I discovered that I was pretty strong and fitness like this could be fun! I started to notice a massive difference in my body and my mental health not long after starting, and from then on I was hooked. My confidence both in and out of the gym grew, and so when I moved away from home for uni, I knew I had to keep up CrossFit. I found CFG and from day 1 in the door I’ve been in nearly every day since!

Dale House - Trainer

I fell into the world of CrossFit in 2017 when I joined CrossFit Glasgow right in the middle of the Open, not knowing what any of the movements were, I was quickly humbled at the required understanding of how the body should move compared to how mine did, since then its been a journey of getting stronger, fitter and becoming as mobile as possible, I’m still a work in progress.
Coming from the military where I served as a Royal Marines Commando PTI, “phys” as we called it, was always an essential part of every day. CrossFit gave me the ability to workout with likeminded people. People who like to put everything else that life throws at us to one side and get after it. The variety that CrossFit offers is what I truly love, one day its a technical lift to the next being a heart and lung burner …. it caters for all.

Graeme Davidson - Trainer

I found CrossFit in 2019, when it was recommended to me by a former football team mate, in the form of the Froning Documentary on Netflix. I have always been fairly active, and played football. A life changing event in 2019 pushed me to seek something completely different. After watching the doc, I knew that I wanted to train and be exposed to the challenges that were put in front of the athletes in the film. Joining CFG, purely because it was the local CrossFit gym, was the best decision I could have made. I have been training at CFG since autumn 2019 and have now come full circle in becoming a coach. Since joining, I've been to amazing classes, had the opportunity to be part of some incredible events across the UK and Europe. I truly believe CrossFit and the team at CFG have changed my life. I've met extraordinary people and made lifelong connections and friendships with some inspiring groups and individuals. Most importantly, I'm the fittest I have ever been.