heaLth & fitness Medina Leisure Centre relaunched


The completion of the first phase of the upgrading at Medina Leisure Centre on the Isle of Wight, has been delayed, with the Newport facility now set to open on 1 March 2013. Te delay is due to addi-


tional works required on a steel structure that will house a new ToneZone gym, exercise studio and dry-side changing rooms. Te current ToneZone gym remains open while works continue. Te gym upgrade is the first


Obesity costs Irish economy 1.64bn euro every year


Overweight and obese populations in Ireland and Northern Island cost the island 1.64bn euro (£1.34bn) annually. A survey by University of Cork research,


funded by Safefood, reveal 398m euro (£324.40m) goes towards healthcare costs each year with the remaining two thirds of economic costs in reduced productivity. Eighteen weight-related diseases were stud- ied and the main drivers of healthcare costs were cardiac disease (44 per cent), type 2 diabetes (nine per cent), colorectal cancer (12 per cent) and other cancers.


Te refurbished centre and its new gym are due to open in March 2013


of three phases of a multi-mil- lion pound refurbishment funded by the Isle of Wight Council. Te delayed opening will push back the remaining phases of construc- tion at the leisure centre, which include new bar, café and toilet facilities, now to be opened at the end of April, and refurbished pool, plant and wet-side changing rooms to be opened 7


June. Phase three, which will see a new meet- ing and training room and the refurbishment of female dry-side changing rooms will fin- ish 23 August. Medina Leisure Centre facilities include a


sports hall, outdoor sports facilities, fitness classes, swimming facilities and a gym.


Peter Roberts returns as Pure Gym CEO


Budget fitness chain Pure Gym has announced that it has re-appointed company founder Peter Roberts as the new chief executive. Roberts, who moves from


the role of deputy chair, takes over from Tony Harris who is leaving by mutual agreement aſter six months in the role. Roberts founded the com- pany in 2008 and the chain has since grown to 38 clubs in the UK. “I would like to thank Tony


for his time with us,” Roberts said. “His hard work and cor- porate discipline have been much appreciated and I wish him well in his next venture. “I’m very pleased to be stepping back into the


role of CEO to continue to drive the business forward as a market leader in the sector.”


Pure Gym was founded by Roberts in 2004 and now has 38 UK clubs According to Pure Gym’s financial reports,


turnover in the year to February 2012 was £16.4m, up from £6.3m in the previous year. EBITDA was £5.2m, up from £1.5m in 2011. Details: http://lei.sr?a=j0a0p


Fitness Express to expand Hethersett leisure centre


A Norfolk leisure club, at Park Farm hotel Hethersett, has celebrated its 21st birthday with the official opening of a new extension. Te club, run by Fitness Express, features a


new spa pool, refurbished swimming pool and a carbon neutral biomass boiler system, which


© Cybertrek 2013


heats the hotel as well as club facilities. Fitness Express was founded 26 years


ago by Steve Taylor and Dave Courteen and largely provides gyms for hotels, commer- cial premises and student accommodation. Details: http://lei.sr?a=c7Q7d


Twitter: @leisureopps Beattie is leaving to ‘‘pursue new opportunities”


Founding director of énergie leaves company


David Beattie, a founding director of fitness chain énergie Group has leſt the company to ‘pursue new opportunities’. He spent 10 years with the company, with his latest role being brand and marketing director. “Te company is about to embark on


a new chapter and on a journey that will transform the organisation,” Beattie said. “It is therefore the ideal time for me to


take the opportunity to pursue my own personal goals across a broader portfolio of ventures.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=b5r1M


Premier Global appoints Jon Haywood as new FD


Premier Global has appointed Jon Haywood as its new finance director. Haywood, who has previously held a


number of similar roles at large organisa- tions, has been tasked with overseeing the line management of the finance and IT divi- sions of all of Premier’s three companies - Premier Training International, Active IQ and Active IQ Academy. He will work alongside Premier


Global’s CEO, Debra Stuart, to deliver the group’s three-year growth strategy. Details: http://lei.sr?a=h2W1F


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