Corporal Simon Millins – Lead Coach

Cpl Millins has been coaching, training and competing in strength sports for around 7 years. He originally started powerlifting after prolapsing three discs in his back and was looking for a way to strengthen his posterior chain to prevent further injury. After five years and competing on the BDFPA world platform – coming second in squat – Cpl Millins decided he wanted to try something new. He attended his first UKAF Strongman and Strongwoman competition on a whim and walked away with the win. Since then, Cpl Millins has had great success, being undefeated in the U105kg category.

Cpl Millins decided to test himself in national competition, coming second at the Natural Strongman Wales’ Strongest Man in the U105kg cat. This qualified him for UK and Irelands Strongest Man 2025.

Cpl Millins has been a Powerlifting Coach for 6 years now and a Level 1 Strongman and Strongwoman Coach for over a year. He says that: “the best thing about Strongman and Strongwoman is the community, they are such a friendly and welcoming bunch with an amazing sense of camaraderie.”

WO2 Dan Yexley – Reserve Lead Coach

Dan has competed in national competition in the Male Opens and Masters for a number of years. As one of our most experienced athletes and coaches, he joins the Masters 50+ in November 2025 where he will compete for both the English and UK titles. Having completed a Sports Coaching degree and a number of coaching, fitness and sports nutrition courses over the years, he was one of the UK Armed Force’s first L1 Strongman and Strongwoman coaches.

Dan also streams Strongman and Strongwoman events across the country with his friend from Imp Stream. He loves commentating on grassroots to national level competitions, across all weight and age categories. It is this that he loves most about the sport – the strong community spirit. He says that: “everyone is so supportive and just wants to see feats of strength regardless of who does them.”

Cpl Paige Atwell – Female Lead Coach

Cpl Leigh Graham – South of England

WO1 David Pennington – North of England

Capt Pennington is a dedicated strength sports athlete and coach, currently posted to the Royal Lancers in Catterick. His journey into powerlifting and strongman began over 16 years ago, driven by a passion for physical performance and competition.

As a competitor, Capt Pennington has earned notable success, including podium finishes at the UK Armed Forces Strongest Man  — placing second in 2013 and 2014, and winning the title in 2015. He transitioned into powerlifting with continued success, competing in both singles and full power events from 2015 to 2023 – proudly representing the Army Powerlifting Team twice. Since 2023 he returned to the sport of Strongman and earned the title of UK Armed Forces Strongest Man 2025 (U105kg).

In 2024, he qualified as a L1 Strongman and Strongwoman coach and has assumed the appointment of the Lead Coach for the North of England.

What Capt Pennington loves most about the sport is the mental and physical resilience that the athletes build, and the strong sense of community it fosters. He is passionate about helping others unlock their potential, whether they’re just starting out or aiming for elite competition.

Capt Luke Heppenstall – Midlands

Capt Heppenstall is an experienced personal trainer and L1 Strongman and Strongwoman coach responsible for athletes in the Midlands. He has years of experience in competition planning, delivery and governance, alongside notable successes as an amateur athlete. Winning West Yorkshire’s Strongest Novice and Cambridgeshire’s Strongest Novice in 2023, he joined the intermediate category in February 2024. As a lighter athlete, he has held his own in intermediate competition at Hull’s Strongest Man and Warwickshire’s Strongest Man, placing 4^th and 1^st respectively. He now joins the ranks of U100kg where he will compete for the WHEA UK’s Strongest Man in July 2026.

His passion for Strongman and Strongwoman consumes his professional and personal life; the Sport Operations Manager for UK Armed Forces Strongman and Strongwoman, a trustee for Mind Body Connect, a board member with WHEA GB and, of course, a lifelong fan. Capt Heppenstall loves the incredibly familial environment the sport brings and enjoys watching novices progress through the development pathway to achieve notable successes in both amateur and semi-professional competition.