It was 2012. Anna Syme, like so many people who were affected during the years of the recession, had a decision to make in life. Where to next? From Gorey to Dublin, and back again, Anna spent years on the road, but with the arrival of her first baby, something needed to change.

“I was working as a chartered surveyor but after the property market situation in 2012, returning to commuting life on the M11 and leaving a small baby at home was not exactly enticing, to say the least,” says Anna. It was this dilemma which got the wheels in motion for Anna to plan, set up and open her exciting business idea – The Stables Fitness & Wellbeing in Gorey – which secured Anna the runner-up position in the innovation and agribusiness category of the Women & Agriculture Awards, run by Irish Country Living in association with FBD Insurance.

Anna certainly had the tranquil setting for the business. Her husband Patrick was farming the family tillage farm in Coolnastud, which housed 250-year-old farm buildings. While most people would see ruin in these old buildings, Anna saw opportunity and potential to merge these resources with her love of fitness.

So it was back to Dublin but for a very different reason. Anna completed a two-month intensive course in personal training. With a qualification in-hand, she was ready for action.

“It was then that my vision came to life. I wanted to create a distinctive and attractive environment, in keeping with the natural elements of the farm, which would entice people to get active and keep fit.”

With this in mind, there was no stopping Anna from her dream. “Using one of the beautiful old redundant stone buildings on my husband’s family farm, we did some renovation works and converted it into a small training studio, ” said Anna. Trading under the name Anna Syme Personal Training, Anna had reached a milestone in her life, but there was more to come.

“Business began slowly, but people seemed to be attracted by the unique location and the varied training opportunities and, luckily, the business has gone from strength to strength.”

It was this unique business idea, run by a business woman who was not afraid to take a chance, that made Anna Syme stand out to our judges Katherine O’Leary from Irish Country Living and Carolyn O’Hara from FBD Insurance.

“I am honoured to have been nominated among these other finalists, it’s lovely to see other women as passionate as I am about their businesses,” said Anna as she accepted her award.

Growing the Business

Last year, in 2017, Anna made the decision to re-brand the business as The Stables Fitness & Wellbeing. With a new name for the business came new ideas for Anna. More of the old farm buildings were refurbished, a yoga studio was developed, as well as a large well-fitted out gym and a room for classes as well as outdoor attractions.

The family has also created its first farm trail running track and obstacle course. Deemed The Steeplechase by those who embark on the course, it runs around the boundaries of the family farm.

“The Steeplechase has 5km and 8km options and currently is only open to members and corporate clients but we are opening it to the public on Saturday 23 June,” says Anna.

With all the extra activities now available at The Stables, Anna required staff to help run it. “My husband Patrick has been supportive from the very start and now he has qualified as an instructor, so he is now a farmer and fitness trainer. We now have four trainers in total.”

Success of the Business

Since its beginning, Anna has never looked back. The Stables is now a thriving business that attracts clients from far and wide and from young to old. “A major success has been our team-bonding events here at The Stables with different sports teams. A highlight had to be when Davy Fitzgerald arrived with the Wexford Senior Hurling squad at 7am on Christmas Eve morning, where he asked us to put his guys through a tough morning of fitness and challenges before they were to go on their Christmas break!

“We had fantastic feedback from them all and on the back of that day, we have had several other team-bonding events for GAA clubs,” said Anna. It’s not just GAA clubs that come visit, corporate customers also come to help bond their employees.

“The main business, however, is the people who visit the farm week in, week out to lose weight, get in shape and stay in shape. These are the people who have made the business succeed and are allowing The Stables continued success and growth.”

Now with three children, Oliver, Harry and Isobelle, they, too, have inspired the business with the launch of the kid’s fitness camps. Last summer, over 80 children took part in obstacle courses, healthy eating workshops and fun-filled fitness challenges over a two-week period. “The camps offer a unique chance for children to get outside and become more conscious of their health and wellbeing and get away from technology for a while,” says Anna. “Recently we also ran our first Easter fitness camp following the same lines, which was fully booked and a great success.”

Embracing change and through innovation, Anna has built a successful business that has enhanced the family income. Going forward, Anna would like to see The Stables as a destination that even more people living in Gorey and the surrounding areas come to for their everyday exercise classes and wellbeing events. This is paramount to success, whilst also promising to focus on quality of service and meeting client’s expectations.

“All our trainers here at The Stables are passionate about teaching and empowering our clients and it is of great importance to me that we stay on top of this and continue to learn and pass on our knowledge to our clients” says Anna. CL

For more information, log onto www.thestables.ie