A grieving community will pay a heartfelt and fitting tribute to a young man who was like a son or brother to so many.
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CrossFit Dubbo will come together for the Jake Walton Classic on Tuesday to honour the gym’s much-loved and respected assistant coach.
Jake, 20, was pulled unconscious from the Macquarie River near Geurie on Saturday night and desperate attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
CrossFit Dubbo will come together for the Jake Walton Classic on Tuesday to honour the gym’s much-loved and respected assistant coach.
Jake, 20, was pulled unconscious from the Macquarie River near Geurie on Saturday night and desperate attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday at St Brigid’s Catholic Church.
Earlier that day the people he trained beside and coached will come together to do a new workout of the day [WOD] in his honour.
Plans for the Jake Walton Classic were put in place soon after news of the devastating death were received.
A total of 80 people are participating, with three heats organised because of the strong level of interest.
Some past clients of the gym are returning to Dubbo to take part.
CrossFit Dubbo owner and coach Duncan Stephens said Jake was a natural coach and everyone had “thrived around him”.
He was the centre of our community...
- CrossFit Dubbo owner Duncan Stephens
“We’re like one big family, just one big family, and we’re all hurting from it and we’re all getting together, banding together to show what Jake really meant to us,” Mr Stephens said.
There will also be a lasting monument to the leading athlete’s contribution.
A huge 3.5-metre by 2-metre plaque featuring a picture of Jake and a record of some of his achievements and the workout specially designed for the day will be installed.
“He was the centre of our community really,” Mr Stephens said.
Jake was being mourned beyond Dubbo by the close-knit CrossFit group.
An Orange gym completed the Jake Walton Classic WOD at the weekend and other crossfit boxers elsewhere also wanted to take part, Mr Stephens reported.