A LEIGH firefighter is delighted after beating more than 1,000 people to win an international fitness contest.

Dad-of-four Dan Ogden, of Wigan Road, competed against contestants from all over the world in the SB911 Transformation competition.

They were tasked with training intensively for 11 weeks and following a rigorous programme to totally transform their bodies.

Dan, 35, was deemed to have achieved the best body transformation by competition founders and renowned trainers Joe DeFranco and James Smith as well as wrestling superstar Triple H.

There was also a public vote.

After winning the $2,000 first prize, as well as supplement and training goodies and the honour of being featured on Mr DeFranco’s podcast ¬– which is downloaded by approximately 100,000 people every week – said: “I am delighted to have won.

“As soon as I found out the news I ran upstairs to tell my wife Lindsay, who just went mental.

“I was amazed when the e-mail came through, and I was nearly deaf with how loud Lindsay screamed.

“It has been tough because we have had a lot of things going on, including a newborn with preeclampsia.

“I wanted to enter the competition last year but life got in the way.

“However this year, despite everything, I did not let anything stop me, and my family, friends and especially my wife could not have been more supportive.”

Dan, who is also a part time personal trainer for his own company New-u-fit, based in Powerbeck gym on Wigan Road, told his friends and family about his strict training regime to force him to stick to it.

He said: “It was so tough but as a trainer I know that you are more likely to stick to something that other people know about.

“I would encourage anyone anywhere to train. I started seven years ago and I wish I had done it sooner.

“Anyone can do it. You just need to stick at it and work hard.”

For more information on SB911 visit defrancostraining.com.