Craig Spicer: Lead Coach
Craig has worked in the fitness industry for nearly 20 years with a background in football, athletics and badminton
After going through 6 months of chemotherapy at the age of 26 he began to compete in Drug-Free Powerlifting competing Nationally and Internationally. Over the last few years was also lucky enough to compete nationally in Olympic Weightlifting at the Masters Level.
Along with his experience in managing and developing athletes, Craig has spent the last few years delivering a plethora of education, workshops and seminars around Coaching and Strength Sports and can’t wait to use Southern Quarter as a base to develop that further.
Having worked for the British Army for the past 17 years, he has been the Head Coach for both Army Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting from 2016 onwards.
He has also had his own team of competitive athletes since 2015 in both sports that he has coached around the World to World titles and records as well as athletes in a multitude of other disciplines.
Major Gary Allen: Level 2 Coach, Southern Counties Representative
I started powerlifting in 2014 after a chance encounter with another Royal Engineer powerlifter on Ops in Afghanistan. I attended my first APU Full Power competition the same year, in shorts and trainers and no idea what I was doing. The environment was amazing, everyone supporting everyone, from World Champions, to first time lifters. I was hooked. I have since qualified for the BDFPA Nationals for the last 3 years running and progressed through the training and coaching qualifications to achieve my level 2, Regional Coach qualification, running and assisting on APU workshops. My passion lies in giving novice lifters the confidence to walk into a gym and get under a bar. As a Masters lifter, I’m also keen to show that age is no barrier to getting stronger. I am looking forward to bringing on new and emerging talent.
WO2 Sheridan Lucas MBE: Female Lead Coach
Sheridan has competed in Powerlifting since 2015 she has represented Wales and the Army at national and worlds level on multiple occasions. Sheridan is a keen sports woman.
Sheridan’s favourite discipline is Bench and after joining the APU family Sheridan has taken on the role of female lead.
Sheridan actively promotes Powerlifting and focuses on keeping the females interacting running workshops and answering any training or lifting questions they may have.
Sheridan believes everyone is cable of achieving there goals and all that is required is direction, Sheridan wishes to assist in this direction for young lifters and welcomes new faces at every opportunity watching the sport grow.
Sgt Rob Davies, REME: Level 2 Coach for Midlands and Wales
My role as a coach within the APU involves promoting Powerlifting within my respective region, nurturing talent and identifying individuals for potential progression to the APU squad. I love this role as it gives me the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals, offer assistance with coaching and programming and above all contribute to the development of lifters within the APU community. I find it extremely rewarding to see lifters develop and step onto the platform at Army events.
Rgr Glenn Kirkpatrick: Lead Coach for Scotland and Northern Ireland
As the Army Powerlifting Union’s lead coach for the Scotland & Northern Ireland Region my main role is to promote and develop the APU and Powerlifting across the region.
I am responsible for the Planning, organising and delivery of individual powerlifting training such as workshops for all abilities and team development training for the region, developing our athletes in preparation for individual competitions and Army level squad selection, developing individual training programmes or working with the athletes coach to ensure they are on the right track to getting stronger.
As well as training my role includes planning, organising and hosting regional and national competitions, managing our athletes in the lead up to their competitions and ensuring they are ready to take to the platform.
I became a powerlifting coach because I enjoy the challenge of developing athletes, no two athletes are the same so finding out what works best for them and watching them grow gives a real sense of achievement. It also gives me a platform to promote the sport within the Army, helping it grow.
