Honouring Excellence in Coaching & Community Impact
Each year, we highlight the personal trainers who go above and beyond—leaders who lift their communities, transform lives, and redefine what it means to coach with heart.
From Belfast to Tyrone, this year’s honourees include inspiring role models, award winners, athletes, nutritionists, menopause specialists, rehabilitation coaches, and champions of inclusive fitness.
Meet the Class of 2026: authentic, driven, community-focused trainers who represent the very best of Northern Ireland’s fitness industry.
Emma Bowles
Female Only Fitness Trainer at EBfit Gym
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebfitni
Awards
Best Female Only Personal Trainer in Northern Ireland 2025 – Finalist @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“EBFit isn’t just a gym—it’s a family filled with encouragement, laughter, and friendship. I pride myself on truly getting to know each client: their goals, struggles, families, and routines. I’m their cheerleader, problem-solver, and friend, always aiming to make their lives a little better by adding fun, energising workouts into their daily routine. We train, sweat, laugh, and sometimes cry together. As a mum of three, I love that our friendships have grown to include our kids too.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My biggest achievements of 2025 were qualifying as a Pilates instructor—including post and antenatal—and getting to share that passion with others every day. I was highly commended at the NIBFit Awards for my work as a female-only personal trainer, and I coached a first-time runner to complete the Belfast Marathon. We crossed the finish line together and later learned she’d been pregnant during the run. We’re still training at eight months pregnant, and I’m excited to support her postnatally in 2026.”
Colin Graham
In Person and Online Personal Trainer (Ballygowan, County Down)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colin.coach.graham
Awards
Best Personal Trainer in County Down 2025 – Winner @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“I’ve gone from a Fitness instructor to PT then upgraded to S&C coach in rugby. I’m also a massage therapist and sports injury therapist. So much more than a normal PT.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“Becoming the best PT in County Down. Achieving the award was amazing.”
Tanya Skelton
Personal Trainer and Online Coach from Gym Antrim
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsfitnessandcoaching
Awards
Best Personal Trainer in Country Antrim 2025 – Finalist @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“What makes me unique as a trainer is through my own journey of losing 12 stone, I changed my whole life around, I can relate to my clients on a personal level and able to support them as I have been in their position, and am a role model for them to show them that anything is possible as I myself have went on to run half marathons, Hyrox competitions and bodybuilding shows. I am very passionate in helping all ages. I run an over 60s gym class and walking group to help this community, especially to combat loneliness and help them build strength, also run kids classes and am currently studying to become a menopause coach.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My biggest achievement as a trainer in 2025 was leaving my full time job of working as a secretary in a school for over 25 years, to work full time in a job I am passionate about, from my online clients to in person training clients.
I had a lady lose over 6 stone, who has turned her life around through small lifestyle changes. Another lady who had a range of health issues, was pre diabetic, high blood pressure and poor mobility and now has normal readings and out walking 10,000 steps a day and able to play with grandkids. A client who has an eating disorder, I have been able to work with them to overcome this. They have lost 45lbs, completed a Hyrox competition and have now booked a photoshoot to show off all their hard work. I am currently training an older client in his 60s for a hiking challenge next year. I have so much to write about and be proud of with my clients.”
Ryan Smyth
Personal Trainer (Monkstown in County Antrim)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourfitness_rs/
Awards
Best Personal Trainer in County Antrim 2025 – Finalist @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“I think what makes me unique as a personal trainer is that I get to know my clients, get to find out the best way that they understand and can perform exercises safely and effectively. Everyone is different and unique in their own way and they all learn everything differently.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My biggest achievement as a personal trainer this year was getting to see all of my clients achieve there goals, getting to see clients smile and be happy with how they look whether it was on their wedding days or on their holidays or even just the happiness in themselves done them achieving theirs goals”
Giusell Di Nucci
PT and Qualified Nutritionist in Strabane, County Tyrone (but coaches women all around the UK via her online programs).
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/giusell_thebalancecoach
Awards
Best Personal Trainer in County Tyrone 2023 – Winner @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“I specialise in helping women, in all stages of life from pregnancy to to menopause, I help women build strength, energy and confidence through realistic home-based training. On both my on line and in person female only classes, My approach is science-led, supportive and completely judgment free, and I’ve built a community where women genuinely feel seen and coached, not just “given workouts”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“Helping so many women reclaim their confidence has been incredible, but my biggest achievement was expanding my programme back to in person training and include pre and post natal training and supporting more women than ever with training that fit real life, reclaim their balance in life and actually get results”
Críostóir Mervyn
In person and online coach at Olympus West Belfast
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/coach_criostoir_mervyn/
Awards
Best Male Personal Trainer in Belfast 2025 – Winner @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer?
“I don’t claim to be unique in any way, as just like my clients I am a “normal” guy. I’m the co-parent of an amazing 3yr old who juggles 2 jobs and the stresses of life like anyone. Having suffered with poor mental health despite having a dream job to now help not just my community but other international clients, I think my unique quality is just being like any normal person and not a cliche fitness professional.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“This has been difficult but I think it simply comes down to having built a firm and thriving community after 3years of building my team. From charity hikes to sea swims, to bring nominated for the GNI awards and representing my growing support within the LGBTQ community, I couldn’t be happier with both my personal and business growth”
Monica Werewolf
Online Coach and Personal Trainer from Lisburn, County Antrim
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/werewolffitnessni
Awards
Best Female Only Personal Trainer in Northern Ireland 2023 – Finalist @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“I offer highly adaptive, data-driven instruction, instantly tailoring content, pace, and teaching style to each individual’s needs while maintaining clarity and consistency.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My most significant achievement in 2025 was advancing my ability to deliver deeply personalised, interactive training experiences that improved learner engagement and outcomes”
Kyle Ramsey
Personal Trainer based in based in WolfPack 24 hour gym in Larne, County Antrim.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/enhanced_fitness_wellbeing
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“What I believe makes me unique, is that I really care about my clients wellbeing, and I put a big focus on the mindset side of training, as I know that when the mind is in the right place everything else follows.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My biggest achievement for this year was starting an over 55s exercise class. This may not sound like much, but it’s been amazing to watch men and women right up until their 70s getting involved in some sort of training, and the smiles it puts on their faces each week.”
Callum Purdy
Personal Trainer from Limavady, County Derry
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/callumpurdyfitness_
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“What makes me unique as a trainer is how I evaluate, identify and eliminate barriers, not just physically but also mentally, I don’t help build a solid physique but I help coach a solid mindset.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My biggest achievement of 2025 is helping 2 of my clients by overcoming 1. addiction and 2. eating disorder (anorexia) both also went on to do a photoshoot.”
Jade McConnell
Health and Fitness Coach (Glow Up Female Fitness, County Down)
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/j.m.health_fitness
Awards
Best Personal Trainer in County Down 2025 – Finalist @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“I think what makes me unique is that I have started as a 20stone woman with no interest in the gym to becoming a PT helping others achieve what I achieved and loving every minute”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“My biggest achievement was being nominated for an NIBFIT award just a year into being a PT.”
Lynn Wolsey Campbell
Female Weight Training Coach at JGHgym, County Down
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/moodfitmum
Awards
Best Gym in Country Down (JGHgym) – 2025 – Winner @nibfitawards
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“I am 46 years old and a single mum to 2 girls struggled with depression, an eating disorder, fertility issues, divorce and becoming a single parent so I understand my clients struggles and build a close relationship with them helping them with their mindset, building their Confidence not only in the gym but other areas of themselves, I help them with other struggles and help educate them on nutrition and the best exercises for their long term health. Weight training has helped me become stronger mentally as well as emotionally and physically and helped me build resilience to deal with the hag life throws at you.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“Building my classes and my clients up and helping more older people get into weight training, helping women through menopause and just building their self confidence through pushing themselves in weight training and feeling stronger and more confident as well as clients who have eating disorders helping them to change how they see themselves focusing on health rather than weight and building muscle rather than fat helping them to eat more and control their emotions which have controlled their eating and helping them to feel confident in their bodies and to love themselves again.”
Maura Gilmore
Online PT and In Person PT with Glow Up Female Fitness in Bangor. County Down
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/maura.gilmore
What makes you unique as a Personal Trainer
“My work blends strength training, mindset coaching, nervous system regulation and self-worth, which is especially powerful for women in midlife.
I draw from my own lived experience. I first joined a gym age 38 after fighting cancer. Im a single mum and have overcome many life challenges including abuse, self harm, and depression. Ive gone from living in anxiety and panic to winning Inspirational Fitness Personality 2024 in Heart and Soul Fitness Awards.
I genuinely understand the emotional side of transformation. My clients don’t just get fitter — they build confidence, resilience and a healthier relationship with themselves.”
Biggest achievement in 2025
“Being nominated as a Mental Health Advocate at the British Fitness Awards, was especially meaningful as it recognised the mindset and wellbeing side of my work, not just physical results.
I’m also incredibly proud of the impact I’ve made through my community-based classes, where my clients range from women in their 20s right through to their 80s.
I teach active seniors, helping them stay strong, mobile and independent, while also delivering high-energy dance fitness classes — which is my absolute passion.
These classes have supported women from isolated areas to improve their health, confidence and sense of connection.”
