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Meet the team

Zac Smith

Owner & Head Coach

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Qualifications: BWL Level 2 & Competition Licence

Experience:  8 years 

Occupation: Civil Engineer 

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I have been involved with the sport of Weightlifting for the past 8 years - 6 of which as a coach. I have always had a drive for learning and I previously coached youth cricket as a junior. I have coached both Junior and Senior weightlifters at national competitions to medals and podium positions (English and British Championships), as well as Masters athletes to world medallist standard. 

 

I coach because I want to help people achieve their goals; it gives me a great sense of reward seeing people overcome obstacles and attain the targets they set for themselves. I am confronted on a daily basis with challenges - this keeps driving me to learn and become a better coach. 

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My ultimate goal would be to represent my country and coach our country’s top athletes at international competitions.

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Things you might not know about me...

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I got my first job when I was 12 years old and spent my summer holiday picking potatoes out of a field! I declined my university offers out of school to go and train as a Chef and have carried my passion for cooking through as I enjoy being in the kitchen at home, or in charge of the BBQ. 

 

My day job is a Civil Engineer and I work to design new roads and infrastructure. With this and coaching I am kept very busy. If I happen to have any spare time, I enjoy tuning into the radio to listen to Test Match Special; this normally involves me falling asleep on the sofa too!

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Laura Parker

Owner

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Qualifications: Certified Nutritionist & Level 3 Personal Trainer

Experience:  7 years 

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Favourite Lift: Snatch 

 

I wasn't feeling challenged enough at a commercial gym. I wanted to try something completely different, lift much heavier weights and set myself bigger goals. I saw an ad for weightlifting on Facebook, it looked intriguing...and here I am! Little did I know that Olympic Weightlifting would later become such a big part of my life.

 

Since I started weightlifting 7 years ago, I have competed nationally five times at the English and British Championships, three-times winning a Bronze medal at the English. 

 

I enjoy weightlifting because I like to be focused, work hard and feel challenged. Seeing improvements with the work that I am doing keeps me accountable to myself, my coach and my goals. Whilst my physical strength has improved, my mental strength definitely has too. I love the fact that no matter how good you are, there is always room to get better.

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Things you might not know about me...

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Before I took up weightlifting I ran long distance for a couple of years and completed 5 marathons, including one ultra-marathon.

 

I have a passion for food (mostly eating it...rather than cooking it!) and my favourite food is a south Indian curry. I have a strong interest in performance and weight loss nutrition, and love working with athletes towards achieving their goals. Nutrition coaching isn't about churning out macros and meal plans. It's about creating a relationship, guiding an individual through personalised lifestyle and habit changes, and educating them so that they become autonomous in reaching their own goals.

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Seb Biggins

Coach & Talent Academy Youth Coach

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Qualifications: BWL Level 2 & Level 3 Personal Trainer

Experience:  6 years 

Occupation: Sports Therapist & Practice Educator

Favourite Lift: Snatch

 

I began Olympic Weightlifting 6 years ago after becoming frustrated with powerlifting and general strength training - it lacked the technical and mental challenges I needed to stimulate and motivate me. After watching weightlifting for several months, it tickled something which other training styles never had, and after my first Olympic Weightlifting session I was hooked - it was fast, technical, challenging and forced me to think. For me, weightlifting presents an addictive sense of achievement. I love it because there's always more to learn and never-ending challenges.

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As well as working as a qualified Sports Therapist, I am also a Practice Educator at the University of Essex. I feel passionately about bringing my knowledge and skills to Colchester Weightlifting, working with our athletes to help prevent and resolve any injuries that may occur,

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Things you might not know about me...

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My previous sporting history involves rugby, tennis and cycling - I'm also currently planning some mountain hikes, starting with Snowdon.

 

I can play the piano. 
 
My favourite food is literally anything Thai, Korean or Malaysian.

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I am obsessed with my Cocker Spaniel, Che!

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Heather Burt

Coach & Talent Academy Youth Coach

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Qualifications: BWL Level 2 & Technical Official Licence

Experience:  6 years

Occupation: Accountant

Favourite Lift: Clean and Jerk

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My introduction to weightlifting came when I took part in a 10 week weightlifting course at the crossfit gym I was a member of and as result discovered I wasn’t completely terrible at it. I made the decision to switch my focus over and competed at my first British Championships four months later, the rest is history.

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Since then I have competed nationally four more times, including a silver medal at the 2019 English Championships.  I also got to compete in Montreal at the 2019 Masters World Championships.

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Weightlifting is my passion, I live for that feeling when you walk out onto the platform to take that first lift or the high after a PB and recently, I have also discovered the joy I feel when helping other people to realise their own potential in a coaching capacity.

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Things you might not know about me...

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I have always participated in competitive sport including swimming and equestrianism - I even used to compete in high jump for my school athletics team...shocking for someone of my height!

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Outside of weightlifting in my limited spare time I enjoy walking (mostly with my dog Todd), cooking, reading and spending time with my daughter who is also a youth member at Colchester Weightlifting!

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Emily Alcock

Club Captain & Technical Official

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Qualifications: Technical Official Licence 

Experience:  6 years

Occupation: Operations Analyst

Favourite Lift: Snatch 

 

I first tried weightlifting in 2017 after I was advised to take up weight training to aid the symptoms I was experiencing with my hyper mobility. Before long, I was absolutely hooked! I loved training in such a friendly and sociable environment and for the first time in my life, I was actually enjoying a sport rather than simply exercising. 

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I love challenging myself as a weightlifter and would love to compete nationally one day. I also enjoy learning about the technical aspects of the sport.

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Things you might not know about me...

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In addition to my day job in the insurance industry, I am also a qualified eye lash technician. 

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If I am not at work or in the gym, you will most likely find me reading, shopping or out eating with friends and family.

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Clair Fiddaman

Technical Official

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Qualifications: Technical Official Licence 

Experience:  7 years

Occupation: Senior Business Analyst

Favourite Lift: Snatch 

 

I got in to weightlifting via CrossFit. I found I got much more enjoyment from lifting heavy things than doing lots of burpees! I then discovered that, due to my age, I could qualify for Masters competitions, so I began to take my training a lot more seriously and since 2017 I have competed in numerous national competitions, gaining a number of titles and even a British Record!

 

I absolutely love weightlifting and the buzz it gives me when a lift goes really well!

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Things you might not know about me...

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I was a netball nut from high school playing up to County level, but a rupture of my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my right knee, and a further operation on the same knee ended my netball days.

 

I lived in California for 18 months in 2000/1.

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