January 2019
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
Rigs crowned best gym in the country RIGS Fitness has been crowned the UK’s best gym at the National Fitness Awards 2018. The Birmingham gym won both National Gym of the Year and Regional Gym of the Year Midlands and Wales at the awards, held at Leicester’s Athena venue at the end of November. For owner Sam Smith, it was the pinnacle of a long history with the NFAs. Rigs now has a grand total of five National Fitness Awards on their shelf since opening in August 2012 with only Sam as a full time staff member. Along with co-founder Paul Gilmore, brother Ben and a handful of coaches and family members, they embarked on a dream of creating a successful functional fitness centre. Sam said: “Winning National Gym of the Year and Regional Gym of the Year Midlands and Wales for the second time at this year’s NFAs has been the single best moment of our six-and-ahalf year journey at Rigs Fitness. “I am now one of 15 fitness staff at the gym, we’ve developed and opened our very own performance arm of the gym, athlete development programme, Youth Athlete Academy. We have in-house physiotherapists,
sports massage therapists and nutritionists and have had sports stars from all over the world come and train with us. “But we still have our tagline of Train Like An Athlete and pride ourselves on the quality of our coaching and friendly environment that genuinely allows people from all backgrounds, ages and levels of fitness to come and train in an approachable atmosphere and achieve their fitness goals.” The gym won Newcomer of the Year in 2013 and came Regional Gym of the Year Midlands and Wales runner up in 2014. In 2016, they won Functional Training Gym of the Year, before taking home regional Midlands and Wales and coming runner up in strength last year. “We never thought we would officially be the best gym in the UK when we opened, but we have consistently worked hard every single minute we have been open and this award gives our amazing members, coaches, staff and owners recognition for that hard work, its amazing,” Sam added. n For a full roundup of our 2018 NFA winners, read our feature starting on page 31.
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Middlesbrough trainer recognised PERSONAL trainer Mike Hind received recognition for his outstanding contribution to the fitness industry at the NFAs. The Middlesbrough trainer, who made headlines nationwide this year for his lifesaving work with client Darren ‘Dibsy’ McClintock, took home the Outstanding Achievement award at this year’s ceremony. He also took home Personal Trainer of the Year for the second year in a row. Mike, who runs gym MAS Body Health and Fitness and launched his Macro Based Diner this year, said he never dreamed of being honoured with the accolade. “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to walk away retaining the title of the UK’s best PT but also the pinnacle which was the Outstanding Achievement Award. If I’m honest it still hasn’t sunk in, nor do I think it ever will,” Mike said. “When the words ‘and the winner is... Mike Hind’ were read out, my head dropped between
my knees, I was gobsmacked. My team, who were there with me and who have always been there since the day I started, were also ecstatic. “In 2011 I was selling shoes on a car boot sale, trying desperately to fund a dream and a passion. Seven years on, I was stood on the stage surrounded by my amazing team, celebrating the success that was beyond my wildest dreams.” Mike thanked his entire team when he accepted his two awards. “This year has seen me work with professional footballers, boxers, athletes, I have appeared on national TV, in newspapers and in media across the world. “But without a doubt the highlight of my year has been the 2018 National Fitness Awards, so from the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all the judges who have taken the time to acknowledge the work that we love and and will continue to do.”