our specialist coaches are not just simply EXPERTS!
they epitomise the essence of CrossFit:
constantly learning;
eager to help you but in your own way; and
get you beyond your limitations.
Our coaches at CrossFit Newbury have one single goal.
To get you to achieve your best, time after time.
So come meet the team.
Grant Dedden
Newbury CrossFit Owner
CrossFit Level 2 Coach / Sports Therapy Diploma / Personal Training Level 3 / CrossFit Programming (Online) / CrossFit Scaling (Online) / CrossFit Spot the Flaws (Online)
Grant is owner of CrossFit Newbury and has been in this role since opening the box in 2017.
He started his Crossfit journey in 2014 with CrossFit Bath but prior to this worked for many fitness companies including Nuffield, Technogym and PlayerLayer.
Grant has always been into sport and loved being outside and active. Starting his sporting career at the age of 5 he played golf for the local county and competed in the Junior Faldo series. He played rugby for Newbury and Berkshire up until his mid-twenties, after which he gave rowing a go for his local team in Kingston Upon Thame. The 5:00 am starts and cold winter mornings put a stop to any attempt to get really good.
Over the years he found himself constantly moving around different sports and trying to vary his workouts to increase his fitness levels. Then he found CrossFit which was perfect. So varied, so different and he has not looked back since.
Grant now loves sharing his passion with others, helping them achieve their goals, enjoy their workouts and build a lifelong love of exercise.
Away from sport, work and CrossFit he is a dad of two and family man. Perfect weekend is a long dog walk with his family and mad spaniel Luna followed by good meal and glass of wine.
Charlotte Crawford
CrossFit Level 1
Charlotte has always loved being active. Most of her school years she did rowing and swimming. She started weightlifting in a commercial gym and loved it. But once Charlotte heard about CrossFit and watched some videos she knew she had to try it. Since starting in 2018 she has been hooked.
Charlotte enjoyed CrossFit so much herself that she knew she wanted to help other people enjoy it. She is passionate about encouraging people to have fun with exercise and enjoy movement. Her favourite workouts are anything involving barbell cycling.
Tess Forsberg-Bowes
CrossFit Level 2 coach
Tess played ruby at club level for both the Scottish and English league champions, retiring in 2016 after winning the English league with Richmond. She’s dabbled in weightlifting winning the European and International Open Masters Championship in 2017, as well as the British Masters in 2018.
Like many broken rugby players, she found a new sense of community and performance in CrossFit. As a full time mum and engineer she still loves to push her mind and body finding new limits. She is especially keen to support those brave souls battling injuries and balancing the demands of family life.
Hannah Jackson
CrossFit Level 1
When younger, Hannah did both football and ballet (an interesting mix!), moving to running at a later age and then finally taking the leap to try CrossFit back in 2018.
The thing she loves most about CrossFit is that there are always movements you can work and improve on! Every day is a learning day, from beginners through to experienced athletes.
Hannah’s favourite part about being a coach is the positive, welcoming energy she can bring to people in classes & being able to play a small part in continuing to build an inclusive community.
Her favourite type of workout is a long Metcon!!
Gemma
CrossFit Level 1
Gemma found CrossFit in 2018, after getting into group training classes at the gym, CrossFit offered a new challenge.
For her, the main attraction was the supportive community who cheers the person finishing a workout last as much as the person who finishes first.
Additionally, she loves the variety CrossFit offers - every day is different, and you always have something to work on and improve.
Gemma particularly enjoys competing and will take any opportunity to jump in on any local event that comes up.
You'll often catch her in open gym working on her Olympic Weightlifting (work on your weaknesses and all that...)
Chris Holland
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer / CrossFit Programming (Online)
Chris played and competed in football, rugby and athletics all at Somerset County level from a young age up until leaving college. After which he spent most of his time in a gym, never sticking to the chest and tri days, opting for more HIIT and explosive training.
When moving too Berkshire in 2013, he found CrossFit and has been hooked ever since. He has a passion for dropping in at boxes around the UK and in Europe, getting the same warm welcome from the coaches and members alike.
A favourite moment for Chris in competition was when he won the 1st round of a WOD by miles, not realising that the rest of the pack were pacing themselves... needless to say he did not win rounds 2, 3 and 4.
Jeannie Ivanov
CrossFit Level 2 coach / RFU Level 2 rugby coach /FA Level 1 coaching badge
Jeannie played university Premiership football, briefly represented England at touch rugby and Championship 2 rugby union (then got too slow to outrun forwards).
She found CrossFit two and a half years ago after a long love affair with contact sports and moved from sceptic to obsessive within two workouts at Newbury CrossFit.
Jeannie will watch or try to play almost any sport, and is particularly fond of darts. She loves competing in team competitions at CrossFit (while always having somewhere to hide when TTB come up). Also she loves Diane, hates Karen, and shouts a lot (in a nice way), which tells you all you need to know about her height.
Jon
CrossFit Level 1 / Coaching fundamentals / Spot the flaw / Programming / Teaching movement online.
Jon started CrossFit in 2019 to keep up with his kids and escape the monotony of traditional gyms. He enjoys CrossFit for its endless challenges and the continuous pursuit of improvement in speed, strength, and varied exercises. Though he loves gymnastics and lifting heavy weights, he’s not a fan of rowing.
Without a strong sports background, except for being a tennis team captain in school and college, Jon sees himself as an everyday athlete. He achieved his first muscle-up in 2022 through determination and hard work.
CrossFit has significantly boosted Jon’s confidence and helped him through tough times, leading him to earn multiple coaching certifications, including CF-L1.
Jules Morjaria
CrossFit Level 2 /Olympic Lifting BWLA
Jules has been in CrossFit since 2007 competing and coaching, specialising in Gymnastics and Strength Training. Jules holds many certifications including CrossFit Level 2, Olympic Lifting, BWLA, Gymnastics, Rowing, Pre / postnatal training and Nutrition.