Sarah Lacey from Nourish & Nurture NI
Portglenone based health and fitness business scooped up an award at the prestigious NI Health & Fitness Awards which took place in Belfast this past weekend.
Sarah Lacey - Nourish & Nurture NI, based in Portglenone, picked up the Highly Commended award for Wellness Specialist of the Year.
The awards, which, due to the popular demand of previous years introduced three new categories this year, saw a record number of entries from a host of personal trainers, online coaches, gyms, fitness classes and health and fitness food and clothing retailers across Northern Ireland.
Once again the event was hosted by Q Radio presenter and fitness fanatic, Ibe Sesay, took place on Saturday 23rd September 2023 at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. There were 21 award categories including the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award, this year presented to Debbie Quinn, a Belfast-born fitness instructor who has dedicated over four decades to the fitness industry and helping others.
NI Health & Fitness Awards 2023 Winners
The awards were judged by an expert panel of industry professionals in Northern Ireland. Returning to the judging panel were online fitness expert and long-standing judge, Ian Young and diabetic muscle and fitness author, podcaster and educator, Phil Graham.
To help them decide the winners, the judging panel also welcomed last year’s female personal trainer of the year, Natasha Daryaie, who runs the Gym Guru, East Belfast kick-boxing legend and founder of ProKick Gym and winner of last year’s Outstanding Achiever Award, Billy Murray and four-time Health and Fitness Award winner and owner of Bubba’s Project Gym in Armagh, Bubba Ali. Also new to the panel this year was Captain of the NI Women’s Football team and Cliftonville Ladies, Marissa Callaghan.
Speaking of the awards, Sarah Weir, Director at Weir Events which created the Awards commented:
“It was an honour to bring the health and fitness industry together to celebrate their incredible achievements once again. Every year we aim to make these awards bigger and better and this year, we are delighted to have received a record number of entries. The atmosphere in the room on the night of the awards was electric and it was great to see so many talented industry professionals come together.
"Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners.”
NI Health & Fitness 2023 Category winners:
Health & Fitness Product of the Year
Slim's Healthy Kitchen - Retail Meals
Highly Commended – Sweet Robyn’s LTD
Health & Fitness Service of the Year
The Mummy Physios at Mid Ulster Pilates
Highly Commended – Average to Unstoppable
Health & Fitness Retailer of the Year
Vocus Vit
Best Corporate Wellness Programme
Energia Group
Wellness Specialist of the Year
Intuitive Eating Hub Ltd
Highly Commended – Sarah Lacey – Nourish & Nurture N.I.
Community Engagement of the Year
WISPA (Women in Sport & Physical Activity)
Best Use of Digital Technology
Bodyfit Mums
Highly Commended – Fitness Belfast
Excellence in Rehabilitation
JT Physiotherapy and Reformer Pilates
Highly Commended – North Coast Pilates & Physiotherapy
Yoga class of the Year
The Little Yogi Studio
Pilates class of the Year
All Active Pilates and Physio
Highly Commended – Pulse by Leila
Fitness class of the Year
Armagh City Hotel Health & Fitness Club - Aqua Aerobics
Highly Commended – KB Dance Fitness - DDMIX
Healthy Food Provider of the Year
Slim's Healthy Kitchen
Gym of the Year - Small
Heather Hacking PT
Highly Commended – HOOKED BELFAST
Gym of the Year – Medium
Bodyscape Health Club
Gym of the Year - Large
Sculpture Belfast
Gym Team of the Year
Bodyscape Health Club
Client / Member Transformation of the Year
The Menopause Coach - Nikki Girvan
Female Personal Trainer of the Year
Nicola Rea - Think Fit
Highly Commended - Geraldine McAleenan – The Menopause Coach
Male Personal Trainer of the Year
Robert Stevenson - T1 Fitness
Highly Commended – Alan Waterman – Phoenix Belfast
Online Personal Trainer of the Year
Geraldine McAleenan - The Menopause Coach
Specialist Trainer of the Year
Ryan Bloomer – RB Adapted Coaching
Health & Fitness Business of the Year
Follow Leisure
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry
Debbie Quinn