The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) has announced the first ever winners of its Lifetime Achievements Awards.

The winners – Robin Gargrave, Georgina Jupp, Steven Timperley, Pete Williams, Simone Price and Elaine Sharratt – were presented with their awards by Sandy Coffman, president of Programming for Profit, at a ceremony also attended by REPs’ chair John Greenway.

REPs’ Registrar Cliff Collins said he hopes these inaugural winners will inspire future nominees to aim for the same high standards.

“We hope the REPs’ Lifetime Achievement Award will come to be recognised as a gold standard within the industry and certainly we couldn’t have hoped for a better calibre of winners than our chosen six.

“Their achievements have set a high standard indeed for future nominees and I am sure this year’s award ceremony is just a taste of things to come.”

Winner Simone Price said: “I am thrilled to be amongst the first to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. To me this is my equivalent to winning Olympic Gold.

“Hopefully this will now take my career to new heights, providing motivation for me for many years to come. I applaud the work of the REPs and would encourage all those registered not to sit back on their qualifications but to continue developing their knowledge and teaching skills further.”

Fellow winner Pete Williams added: “It seems a little strange receiving a lifetime achievement award at the age of 34, but sometimes it feels like a lifetime!

It has taken hard work, single-mindedness and the total support of a like minded team to turn a strong belief into a successful business.

“This award really does mean a lot to me and I would like to thank the industry for recognising my efforts.”

For a full profile of winners, plus pictures of the Awards ceremony see next months’ REPs’ news page in Health Club Management To subscribe, call +44 (0)1462 471913.