Worcestershire CCC have joined forces with Bullpen Fitness to ensure their players have the best possible facilities for the winter strengthening and conditioning programme so crucial to their preparations for the 2016 campaign.
The County are delighted to announce that Bullpen Fitness, who are based in Sherriff Street, Worcester, will be the base two days a week for skipper Daryl Mitchell and Co after becoming one of their official partners for the next 12 months.
It is the work carried out during the off season by the club's top notch Strengthening and Conditioning coach Ross Dewar with the squad that helps ensure their fitness and ability to cope physically with the demands of a six month campaign.
He will put the players through their paces at Bullpen Fitness in addition to the other work carried out in the club's own gymnasium complex at New Road in the Graeme Hick Pavilion – and outdoors.
It was such work that enabled bowlers Jack Shantry, Joe Leach and Charlie Morris to bowl 500 overs apiece during 2015 – and claim 160 wickets in the LV = County Championship.
Dewar said: "It is good to link up with Bullpen Fitness. They have got some very decent facilities, there is a good amount of space for us to work-out. To an extent we are limited space-wise in our own gym. We are happy to go there.
"We will be able to get our movements done, all the work we need to do on our hips, shoulders and ankles as well as some weights.
"We will be working there twice a week during the winter and can go there during the season if, for example, there is an overlap with something like a Second Eleven game at New Road.
"There are more of the conventional gyms with treadmills and machines and they are not conduisive to producing athletes so it (Bullpen) is a good place for that.
"This work will keep the players on track and hopefully we will hit the new season in April in good shape."
Bullpen founder and owner Fraser McKenzie said: "We are extremely proud to show our support to Worcs CCC by opening our facility to the boys. We are all passionate about the field of strength and conditioning and by having the players and staff using our venue is exciting for all of us.
"From following the training styles of Ross Dewar and his team we are looking forward to having like-minded professionals working out of our gym. Further sharing our passion for scientific based training and cutting through the gimmicks that pollute the fitness industry.
"It will be a great opportunity for both the Worcs CCC and Bullpen to work together but ultimately it is about providing the best for our local team in their race for promotion."
Worcestershire Commercial Director Jon Graham: "We are delighted Bullpen Fitness have become one of our partners for the next 12 months initially.
"Ross Dewar is the S and C coach and the winter months are critical in making sure the players put in the hard yards which may mean that come September and we are hopefully pushing for promotion, they will reap the rewards for all the graft.
"Over the past couple of years a lot of strengthening and conditioning work has been done by Ross and the players on the concourse area under the Graeme Hick Pavilion. I've seen a couple of sessions and rather them than me!
"I spoken to Ross and he mentioned Bullpen which is a new complex. I met the lads and it is a different way of training.
"But, if you are going there to do the whole strengthening and conditioning type of training, there won't be anything better than that.
"It gives Ross the area, space and cover he needs and we look forward to a fruitful and successful partnership."
Graham said that it was intended to film some of the sessions to give supporters and members a perspective of just how hard the players work between November and the opening game in early April.
He said: "Over the close season we are looking to get some of the sesssions recorded so we can put them on social media.
"The perception of cricket is the players turn up in April and finish in September. The reality is it's a 12 months a year job and this is where the real graft goes in.
"I think supporters will be surprised to see the pain the lads go through to get themselves into the shape they need to be in for the demands of the season.
"Bullpen Fitness are a local business. We have a whole range of partners, we try to keep such partnerships in the city if we can and it's a matter of supporting a local business. They are giving the lads free membership for 12 months so they are investing in it as well as us.
"It will give them a bit of profile and when people see the clips on social media they will get an idea of what the gym is all about. You certainly will get fit if you go there."
Bullpen Fitness were formed in November 2013, is one of the biggest Crossfit affiliated gyms in the United Kingdom and has expanded its facilities to meet the growing demand Bullpen Fitness is a strengthening and conditioning gym specialising in functional fitness.
Crossfit is a combination of high intensity functional movements, consisting of a mixture of aerobic exercises, gymnastics and weight lifting.
