Debbie Bidmead Biography
Born in Tiverton to a farming, equestrian background, I started my journey involved with horses. A member of the Tiverton Pony Club, competing in all the team competitions and qualifying for national finals at Hickstead and Stoneleigh.
I moved into seniors and competed in Affiliated show jumping competitions and was sponsored by a local car hire firm. I ran a family livery yard and looked after and trained a local businessman's point-to-pointer. It was on this horse that I rode for the first time at the age of 18, over the sticks, my love for racing was born and I rode for six successful years as an amateur jockey.
I moved to Hertfordshire and continued riding for a small local racing yard and ran a village pub....I had my first son in 1989 and my second son in 1991. It was during this time that I gained much weight and decided to take up jogging! I entered the local village fun run and won it! I then joined the local running club in Bishops Stortford and discovered I had a flare for running, competing regularly with success. My great strength was in off road trail running. I started to take part in a local aerobics class to improve my fitness and muscular strength further. I became hooked and eventually in 1994, I qualified as a Fitness Instructor with the London Central Y.M.C.A.
I moved back to Devon and trained as a Children's Fitness Coach and was employed by Somerset County Council as a joint supervisor to form and develop an after school and out of school club for working parents in a rural community on Exmoor. I ran the club alongside community education co-ordinator, Jan Ross M.B.E. planning holiday activities, health and fitness programs, art, craft activities and day trips. Kids R Us became very successful and is thriving well in Dulverton today.
Continuing with my running, in 1996 I travelled to Lanzarote, Club La Santa, to compete in the International Running Challenge, 5 days of various long runs over different terrains and won the senior womens competition.
I then moved to West Sussex where living so close to London I was able to gain many more fitness qualifications and evolve myself into an advanced level 3 fitness professional on the Exercise Professionals Register.
In March 2002 whilst living in Sussex, I competed in the U.K's Ultra Trail Competition, 40 miles cross country over the Compton Downs, Newbury and winning he event in 6hrs 33mins.
I developed my skills as a personal trainer and ran a successful business in West Sussex for a while, inspiring women and men to reach their weight loss and fitness goals. A rewarding career which I thoroughly loved.
In 2003, moving back to Devon, I set up my own fitness classes in the Tiverton Community. My passion is teaching a lifetime of health and fitness to ALL and seeing the results in the many people that I meet along the way. It is a very rewarding and wonderful way to make so many like minded fit friends!
