Martial arts academy boss lands top title

Rachel Blinston who runs Lynx Black Belt Leadership Academy in Retford won Business person of the year at the NNBC awards.

The category is one of the hardest to win and Rachel, who has been in the profession for 19 years, made it to the finals last year.

She received her award from the head judge who represented Wright Vigar chartered accountants.

The 400 spectators included her husband Master Andrew Blinston 6th Dan, assistant instructor Rhio Blinston 2nd Dan, fellow scholarship instructors and team members. Andrew and Rhio were finalists in the categories of business partnership in the community and apprenticeship of the year.

In her acceptance speech, Rachel said: “It gives us great pleasure to bring home another award for Lynx Black Belt Leadership Academy.

“Thank you to my husband who was a young talented professional martial artist before I ever met him. He walked into my life and said he wanted to teach professional martial arts in a full time location that he owned.”

She thanked their daughter and parents and the academy’s scholarship instructors.