ALL FOR ONE

And one for all

Our team share a common approach founded in a love of helping others to release their potential, through a tailored, holistic, training model. Each member brings their own expertise and sense of fun to our team, creating an enjoyable, energetic and challenging atmosphere.

founders

hosts

ambassadors

athletes

group evolution founders

A man wearing a light-colored hat and navy shirt smiles at the camera in front of an outdoor swimming pool with lane dividers, surrounded by trees and greenery under a clear blue sky.

Barry

Co-Founder

Like many I returned to sport in my late 30's, catching the 'triathlon bug'. In 2013 I even decided to go back to 'Uni', graduating 3 years later with a first class degree in sports science. During COVID, I returned and achieved a distinction in my Masters in Applied Biomechanics.

I support most of the retreats and love meeting guests and watching them grow during their stay, both individually and as a group. I founded Group Evolution with my wife, Becky, to help people benefit from a the highest quality of advice in a supportive and nuturing enviroment. Oh, and to have some fun at our gorgeous Chateau along the way!

I continue to be keen on sport but I am now also a keen writer (I penned our murder mystery), amateur photographer (thanks to our host Paul Mitchell) and bridge player, all thanks to the Chateau.

Two athletes wearing race bibs, one in a white Castelli tri-suit and the other in a blue top, run side by side past a finish line, smiling and sweating, with other participants in the background.

Becky

Co-Founder

With a goal-obsessed husband (look left) and a daughter playing international sport, I had little choice but to sink or swim ... literally! So I joined in the fun and have since completed two marathons and numerous triathlons (up to half-ironman). My next venture is Royal Parks, with 'coach' Barry supporting my journey, every, rather slow, step of the way.

Being a commercial property lawyer, I tend to add a little sanity to proceedings, organising both our lives and our Chateau (it does help that I speak fluent French). I am also very interested in healthy nutrition and, as head cook at most retreats, I am often found adapting recipes to maximise their benefit. I enjoy working with our nutritionists to come up with retreat menus that are as tasty as they are healthy, all individually tailored to our guests likes and dislikes.

our hosts

sports

Mark Allen, wearing a maroon polo from the Mark Allen Experience training camp sits by the pool, with green foliage and a stone wall in the background.

Joel Filliol, wearing a maroon polo shirt and a black cap, sits on a low wall by the pool at the Joel Filliol Retreat, smiling at the camera against a backdrop of trees and a blue sky with clouds.

A man with glasses and a beard is smiling broadly, wearing a blue hoodie. He stands on a beach with gentle waves in the background under a cloudy sky.

A smiling man stands outdoors with his hands on his hips, wearing a black sports jacket and blue athletic pants—ready for a run training retreat with Nick Bester. Autumn trees and a pond provide a scenic backdrop.

Mark Allen

'The Grip'

Mark Allen is the most successful triathlete of all time having won the IRONMAN Triathlon World Championships® 6-Times, The Nice International Triathlon 10-Times, and the first recognized Olympic Distance Triathlon Championship. He went undefeated in 21 races for an astounding two-year winning streak from late 1988-1990. He has been inducted into the Halls of Fame for IRONMAN, USA Triathlon, and the International Triathlon Union. In 2012 Mark was voted The Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time by ESPN.

Post retirement Mark has devoted his career to coaching athletes of all levels and to sharing the lessons he learned about preparation, perseverance, and living up to your full potential with teams, companies and organizations worldwide.

Joel Filliol

Entrenador Maestro

Joel Filliol is internationally recognized as one of triathlon’s most successful performance leaders.

Joel’s independent elite multi-national triathlon squad #JFTcrew, has achieved more that 30 World Triathlon Series winning performances as part of more than 100 World Triathlon Series podiums, and 6 overall World Triathlon Elite World Championships Titles.

Previously Joel served Triathlon Canada as National Senior Coach and Beijing 2008 Olympic Coach, where he guided Canadian Simon Whitfield to the Silver Medal in Beijing, British Triathlon as Head Coach, Federazione Italiana Triathlon in the role of Olympic Performance Director, and serves Triathlon Australia in the role of Podium Centre Head coach and Olympic Program Head Coach.

Barry Williams

Coach & Lead Sports Scientist

Barry has had a wide and varied career from semi-professional rugby, to fast stream civil servant, political adviser, infrastructure financier, private equity fund manager and then sports scientist and BTF coach.

Having graduated with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and MSc in Applied Biomechanics, Barry has focussed on helping age group endurance athletes achieve their potential, through tailored training camps and goal orientated coaching. Barry haa helped athletes of all levels, from amateur to professional, refine their technique, using cutting edge force sensor analysis that identifies inefficiencies and assymmetries which compromise performance and, potentially, risk injury.

Nick Bester

Head Coach Best Athletics

Nick Bester is the dedicated and dynamic Head Coach of Best Athletics, where he leads athletes to achieve their full potential through a combination of rigorous training, motivation, and personalized coaching. With a passion for sports development and an in-depth understanding of athletic performance, Nick is committed to creating an environment where athletes can thrive both physically and mentally. His coaching philosophy centers on hard work, discipline, and fostering a growth mindset to help athletes reach their personal and competitive goals. Under his leadership, Best Athletics has developed a reputation for nurturing talent and achieving excellence across various disciplines.

Man in a red shirt and black shorts jogging on a dirt path with a wooden fence to his left. He is wearing sunglasses, and there are trees and bushes around. The sky is clear and blue.

A person with long blond hair smiles while wearing a blue shirt. The background is blurred with green foliage, suggesting an outdoor setting.

A person swims in a fastlane pool while another person stands nearby, pointing at the swimmer. The swimmer wears a purple swim cap, and theres a large screen on the wall in the background.

A cyclist in a bright pink jersey and black shorts rides a blue bicycle on a leafy, sunlit path next to a green metal fence. Only the upper half of the rider is visible.

Martin Yelling

Performance Coach

Martin is a regular writer and coach for in health, fitness and running media. He has coached runners and triathletes at all levels from total novices who think they can't do it (but actually can), to experienced campaigners, full time professional athletes and celebrity runners, including Eddie Izzard. He is most proud of helping people achieve more than they'd previously thought possible at every level.

Martin has a background in sport, physical activity promotion and health education. He holds a BSc (Sports Science), a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, (Physical Education) and a PhD. He has worked in the education departments at Loughborough University and DeMontfort University. Martin is a UKA level 3 endurance coach and REPS advanced instructor.

Liz Yelling

Yelling Performance

Double Olympian and Commonwealth medalist Liz Yelling may be an elite runner but she's definitely not elitist. Liz has helped runners of all abilities, from total 'I can't run' novices, through to PB hunters and aspiring champions achieve their own personal levels of excellence.

Liz is a world class marathoner but also a highly respected female coach. She has helped first time 5k finishers and experienced marathoners achieve more than they'd previously thought possible. Her client list includes celebrities, Olympians and she coached double amputee Richard Whitehead to a World Record in the marathon (2hr42min) and a Paralympic Gold Medal.

Her approachable, friendly, non-judgemental style and her understanding of the needs of women runners make her the ideal coach for you.

Ray Gibbs

Swim Canary Wharf

Starting from scratch and frustrated by the lack of clear information on how to become a distance swimmer, he watched the technique of the talented ex-GB swimmers at his local masters club and realised that natural swimmers engaged the water, rather than snatched at it, breathed rhythmically, rather than gasped, and streamlined their bodies to slip through the water instead of fighting their way through it.

He also studied with the ASA in order to learn the theory behind what he was seeing. He became one of the fastest swimmers in his age group not by being fitter or stronger than the next man, but by using sound swimming technique. His relatively recent journey from ‘holiday splasher’ to fast and efficient open water swimmer gives him an empathy with his clients as they learn, first the basics and then the more advanced propulsive techniques of front crawl.

Chris Palfreyman

BTF Coach

Chris combines expert knowledge of training science with a personalized approach to help athletes at all levels reach their full potential.

Specializing in triathlon, cycling, and running, Chris emphasizes a holistic approach to training, balancing physical conditioning, mental fortitude, and recovery. His coaching philosophy revolves around sustainable training practices, data-driven decision-making, and providing athletes with the tools to excel both in competition and in their everyday lives.

Chris has built a reputation for crafting individualized training plans that optimize race-day performance and ensure long-term athletic development. His expertise in race preparation, pacing strategies, and recovery has made him a trusted coach for athletes aiming to break personal records and reach new milestones.

creative

Photographer Paul Mitchell - a bearded man with glasses, wearing a dark jacket and shirt, stands outdoors. He has short, styled hair and smiles softly. The background is blurred, showcasing greenery and trees on a sunny day.

A woman with wavy brown hair and a friendly smile is wearing a purple sweater over a collared shirt, standing in front of a plain light-colored wall.

Smiling older woman with short white hair and glasses, wearing a light blue top and a silver necklace, standing indoors near a doorway.

A smiling woman wearing glasses, a white apron, and a dark shirt holds a large platter of skewered food garnished with herbs in a kitchen setting.

Paul Mitchell

Landscape Photography

Paul is a professional landscape photographer, has had numerous exhibitions in London and the South East and has had articles and images published in many photographic magazines. He is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and is the current Chair of the Landscape Distinctions panel. He also serves on the Visual Art and PhotoBook panels and is a member of the prestigious Arena group of photographers. Paul is also a well respected photographic judge and lecturer.

Paul has been successful in the prestigious Landscape Photographer of the Year competition, winning the Sunday Times Choice Award in 2013, the Urban Category winner in 2015 and commended in 2017 and 2018. He has also had successes in the Outdoor Photographer of the Year and the International Garden Photographer of the Year. In March 2022 Paul won the RHS Gold Medal and Best in Show at their Botanical Art and Photography Show held at the Saatchi Gallery.

Leigh Russell

Creative Writing

Leigh Russell writes the internationally bestselling crime series featuring police detectives Geraldine Steel and Ian Peterson, which are currently in production for television. She also writes the mystery series featuring investigative reporter Lucy Hall and a new cozy crime series featuring Poppy, the puppy sleuth.

Leigh studied literature at university, and spent four years immersed in books. After that, she eventually became a teacher, and share her enthusiasm for books with teenagers. For many years it never crossed her mind to attempt to write one herself. Intrigued by a fictitious killer who had arrived, unbidden, to lurk in her imagination, she began to write his story. Having started, she could not stop. That story, Cut Short, was shortlisted for a CWA Dagger Award, and went on to become the first in a long running series.

In the years that have passed since Cut Short was published, she's rarely managed to go a day without writing.

Sue Jackson

Bridge Instruction

Sue Jackson is a Bridge Tutor & EBUTA Associate who has an undiminishing love of the game and helping people to join in her passion.

For many years Sue has been the lead instructor at the Royal Automobile Club, retiring from the role in 2025. She still runs various courses and Friendly Duplicate Pairs sessions in the Oxshott and Bookham areas and is also a private tutor and member of Oxshott Bridge Club.

Anne Cunningham

Cookery Weekends

Anne Cunningham retired from her established career in corporate pharmaceutical market research to pursue her ten-year dream to train at Leiths. In 2023, Anne did the Leith Foundation Term on a sabbatical. She found it fulfilling and returned to Leiths after undertaking some work experience in January 2025, graduating in the summer.

wellness

A woman in a gray tank top and black leggings, with brown hair in a bun, leans against a gray wall on a wooden bench. Shes smiling and resting her hand on an exercise ball beside her, embodying the essence of Strong to the Core - Pilates & Mindfulness Break.

A person sits on a blue exercise ball in a home gym, holding a small dumbbell. They have short blonde hair, wearing a white shirt, black shorts, and sneakers. The room has various exercise equipment in the background.

A person performs a yoga pose on a rocky beach at sunset. Theyre in athletic wear, arching their back with one arm extended upward, and one hand touching the ground. The ocean and cliffs are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Cherese Binedell

Pilates Instructor

Cherese is a fully certified matwork and rehabilitation equipment pilates instructor, having done my matwork qualification through Body Control Pilates and my equipment qualification with APPI. She has been a Pilates instructor since 2010 and has plenty of experience gained over the many years of teaching a variety of cliental. I teach fun, dynamic fluid based classes aiming to get you moving and help correct your posture and alignment. I also offer privates/semi-private sessions which is a great way to focus on specific requirements and goals.

Iryna Boost

Personal Trainer

lryna is originally from Ukraine and her passion has always been to have a career in health and fitness and to be able to help others. She has numerous fitness qualification including a degree in Sports and Physical Training, Stott Pilates Reformer amd Matwork (Essential and Intermediate) Instructor, and specialised courses in back care, ante and post natal care.

Helene Brissiet

Yoga Teacher

Hélène combines her passion for yoga, holistic health, and wellness to guide individuals toward a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. Originally from Mayenne, she discovered yoga at a pivotal moment in her life, and it has since become the foundation of her philosophy of well-being.

With a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga, as well as specialized training in Pre and Post Natal Yoga under De Gasquet, Hélène is dedicated to supporting her students with a personalized approach. She also holds a certification in Naturopathy and continuously expands her knowledge in areas like Yin Yoga, Thai Massage, and Sound Relaxation.

Her practice and teaching are driven by kindness, compassion, and a commitment to helping students embrace the present moment and become the best versions of themselves.

Martin O'Connell

Physiotherapist

Martin O' Connell is a highly regarded chartered physiotherapist who has worked in elite sport for over 20 years.

Martin specialises in soft tissue functional asymmetries and complex dysfunction. He pioneers the 'Fibrolysis' technique which has led to him being known as 'Mr Hookman' in the elite football and rugby world.

Martin shares his clinical time: consulting in professional football, whilst also heading up Symmetry Performance, a multi-disciplinary, high performance clinic offering support to all levels of athlete from a multitude of sporting backgrounds.

In his spare time Martin is a very keen single figure golfer.

group evolution ambassadors

Three athletes pose in front of glass doors. The central man wears a white cap, sunglasses on his head, and a blue racing suit labeled GBR. A woman with sunglasses and a bearded man in a cap stand beside him.

A woman in a red tank top and black leggings practices a yoga pose outdoors, reaching one arm upward, in front of a glorious chateau in the Loire, with tall windows and elegant stone steps enhancing the serene scene.

A cyclist wearing a helmet and a white jersey with yellow accents shouts energetically with mouth wide open, racing past a blurred forest background reminiscent of the trails near a glorious chateau in the Loire.

A man wearing a white shirt and a black watch is running outdoors through a grassy field with trees in the background on a sunny day.

Dillon

GB Age Group Triathlete

Dillon Howells is a Team GB Age-Group athlete specializing in Aqua-Bike, a sport combining swimming and cycling. His journey into multi-sport began during university when he picked up a road bike and tackled the Ride London 100-mile ride. From there, he was hooked on endurance events, later taking on challenges like duathlons, triathlons, and a 100-mile Centurion run.

Dillon’s transition to Aqua-Bike was a game-changer, where he excelled, qualifying for the Team GB elite men’s team for his age group. With a passion for pushing his limits, Dillon is competing at European and World level, aiming to bring home a gold medal for Team GB while balancing his career as an architect.

Madeleine

Yoga Instructor, PT & Triathlete

Madeleine Schwiers, also known as the "Triathlon Princess", is a dedicated triathlete, yoga instructor, and fitness enthusiast from Germany. With a passion for endurance sports and holistic well-being, Madeleine excels both on the triathlon circuit and on the yoga mat. Known for her positive energy and determination, she inspires others to push their limits while embracing a balanced lifestyle.

Her unique blend of athleticism and mindfulness makes her a standout in the fitness world, as she continues to motivate others through her triathlon journey and yoga teachings.

Francesca

Italian Age Group Triathlete

Francesca Ortolani is an aspiring professional triathlete and marketing manager based in Northern Italy. With a fierce determination to reach the highest levels in triathlon, she balances her athletic ambitions with a successful career in marketing. Passionate about endurance sports and personal growth, Francesca continually pushes herself to excel both in competition and in her professional life, inspiring others with her dedication and drive

Sven

Belgian Ex-Pro Triathlete

Sven is a former professional triathlete from Belgium, recognized for his strong performances across international triathlon circuits. Throughout his career, Sven competed in numerous high-profile races, earning respect for his consistent endurance, tactical race strategies, and determination. Known for his prowess in both the swim and bike legs, he competed at the Ironman and ITU Triathlon World Series levels, leaving a lasting mark on the sport.

Since retiring from professional competition, Sven has remained actively involved in the endurance sports community, sharing his extensive experience with aspiring athletes and coaching those looking to improve their performance.

A person with long hair in a ponytail runs on a treadmill in a bright room, facing a large window with trees visible outside. Two other treadmills are on either side. The runner wears black workout clothes and colorful socks.

Shiv

Runner & Coach

Four years ago, Siobhan was unsure where running could take her. Since then, she's fallen head over heels for the sport, completing distances from 5km to 100km, and recently placing in the top 2.5% in a half marathon and 1.4% at my most recent world major marathon. Her journey has taught her that no dream is too big when it comes to running.

As a full-time teacher, she knows first-hand the challenges of juggling training with a busy life. She shares an holistic approach with Group Evolution to thrive in every area of her life.