Benn Coubrough is nominated for PT of the Year for his commitment, reliability, and ability to inspire clients and teammates. He averaged over 50 hours per week for Vision gym, received performance reviews over 80%, and gained 15 referrals. Benn competed in a running, triathlon, or cycling event every month, including marathons and a half Ironman. He is the primary caretaker for his father who had a major stroke, yet still motivates clients through challenging feats and 50+ hour weeks. Benn's dedication to clients, commitment to improving himself, and reliability make him an inspiration and the deserving choice for PT of the Year.

1. PT of the Year by Stephanie O’Brien
Do you want to be awarded the honour of becoming Visions number 1 trainer in 2013? What does it
take to be the number 1 trainer in the network. Let’s hear from Shane Mercer Owner and Manager
at Vision Blakehurst on how Benn Coubrough became our number 1 trainer in 2012:
Benn is the most committed trainer I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside in my 6 years at
Vision. He is committed to his clients. Committed to his teammates. Committed to the Studio.
Committed to me as his Manager. Committed to his Family. Committed to his Training and Nutrition.
He is committed to being an Inspiration and true leader in everything he does. He really gets it! He
has to be Pt of the Year for 2012.
If we just rattle off what he has achieved statistically it only tells part of the story. This guy has
averaged over 50 hours per week for 12 months! That in itself is a massive achievement. It is only a
small part of his enormous 2012 though. Benn has also had 2 performance reviews of over 80% . He
has gained over 15 referrals and set up numerous preferred partnerships in our area. He has
competed in either a Running, Triathlon or Cycling event every single month of this calendar year.
These are not just small local Fun Runs either. There was an Olympic Distance Triathlon, a Half
Marathon, 2 Marathons, then a Half Ironman to finish the year off in Canberra. He’s not just a battler
who turns up for the sake of it either, he has done some seriously impressive times.
His athletic achievements and big hours are not why he should win PT of the Year though. Yeah the
hours are impressive, and so is his event participation. They will go a long way to winning PT of the
Year, but they are not why I am nominating him. I am nominating Benn because of other reasons- it
just so happens that he does a shitload of hours and would rather train and compete than sit down
and take a break!!! I want to nominate Benn for his ability to inspire his clients and his teammates. He
always has time for you. Never blames, has no excuses. It is also to recognise the circumstances
under which he does what he does. Benn has stared adversity in the face for the last 12 months, all
the while smashing out the hours. Hours at work, and hours training. Hours inspiring. I have never
heard him complain once! He is so reliable.
To be PT of the Year you have to be an inspiration to your clients. Benn inspires his clients! In
January Benn inspired a 40 Year old executive named Pete to quit smoking, lose 22 Kilos then ride
the Bupa 139KM Challenge in Adelaide. It had been 20 years since Pete had ridden a bike. Pete still
trains at Vision, has been for 15 months. In May he ran an 88 minute Half Marathon with Iain,
unselfishly staying with Iain until the home straight. In July Benny decide to Run the Gold Coast
Marathon to support Deano, a long term client who has lost over 30 kilos with Vision. This was an
amazing achievement by Dean, but also Benn. Benn had flown up on Saturday arvo after smashing
out another 50 hour week, ran a 3:14 Marathon, then there was a 5PM flight back to Sydney for a
5:30am session the next morning- the start of another 50 hour week! Not once did Benn complain. He
doesn’t want to let anyone down- his clients, his teammates or me. In August Troy took on the Oxfam
100KM, Benny was there as part of the support crew. He was providing support and motivation at
3am, 3 hours before he had to open the Studio on a Saturday morning!
In September Benny really raised the bar. Firstly, Benny inspired yet another client to Run a
Marathon. Nick is another long termer, has been with Vision for over 2 years. He has been with Vision
for over 2 years because Benny keeps helping him set bigger goals!!! Crucial!! Nick smashed the
Marathon, as did Benny. Benny came home in 3:13 this time, another PB. The impressive part of this
lies in the circumstances surrounding the Marathon weekend though. Leading up to it, Benny was
managing the Studio as well as cranking out massive hours. Not content with a mere 50, Benny
smashed out a 60 hour week, Ran a quick Marathon, then backed it up with 55 hours whilst managing
again the following week!
But wait, there’s more! Benny was again called upon to manage the Studio for 2 weeks in November.
Another 2 weeks where he smashed out over 50 hours, made time for one on ones with the team and
still stuck to his heavy training load in preparation for the Canberra Half Ironman which was only 6
weeks away! During this 2 weeks he was also part of a Team that raised over $27,000 for MS and
cycled 90KM in the Sydney to Gong Ride. He is a machine!
Something really unusual happened in late November though, Benny decided to take a holiday!!! His
first in 2 ½ half years with Vision. Amazingly he found time in his hectic schedule to Jet over to
romantic Hawaii and get engaged. Well done mate!
The year was then justgoing to fade out with a few more 50 hour weeks and the Canberra Half Ironman.But
December threw an unexpected spanner in the works! A spanner that meant Benny had to manage the Studio
for another week. Normally no problem. But this time itwasn’t justme who was away, we had another Trainer
away on Holidays.

2. Benny did it on his ear.The Studio belted out 320 session with 4 trainers!Solid!Itjustso happened to be the
week leadingup to Canberra.Benny still gotin his training,managed the studio and raced down to Canberra
to pull outa 5hr Half Ironman!
In the last 4 months of 2012, Benny has managed the Studio for a total of 5 weeks. During this period
I can proudly say the Studio has grown by about 20%.
This guy is a true inspiration! Everything I have mentioned prior is even more special when you get an
understanding of Benn’s family situation. I alluded to adversity earlier. Benny is a very private person.
Something most people don’t know is that Benn is also the primary carer for his father. His father
suffered a major Stroke 18 months ago. Because Benn is who he is, the eldest of three, the leader of
the family, he cares for his Father. Helped find him suitable accommodation when he was without a
home. Helps with his shopping on a weekly basis. Helps with showering and dressing when needed.
Still you never hear him complain. He is well within his rights to, but still he doesn’t.
We should be grateful we have Benn in the Vision Network, he is an amazing guy. I am privileged to
have him in my business, honoured that he is my cousin and grateful to call him a friend. I am very,
very proud of him and all he has achieved in 2012. I can’t wait to see what 2013 holds for him...
A list of Benn’s events in 2012
Jan- Kurnell Triathlon series 2
Feb- Kurnell Triathlon series 3
March- Kurnell Triathlon series 4
April- Sydney Olympic Distance Triathlon, Oatley Fun Run ( with clients)
May- Sydney Half Marathon ( with client)
June- Gold Coast Marathon
July- Sutho 2 Surf (with clients)
August- City 2 Surf ( with clients)
September- Sydney Marathon
October- Brighton Beachside Dash ( with clients)
November- Sydney 2 Gong Ride ( with clients)
December- Kurnell Triathlon Series 1, Canberra Half Ironman