Most people would be delighted simply to complete one of the world’s toughest fitness competitions, but for an Aviemore couple aged 70 and 79, finishing sixth at the Hyrox World Championships has become the latest chapter in a remarkable story that is inspiring people across the Highlands to believe that age really is just a number.
Carol Blakeley, 70, and Charlie Davies, 79, recently returned from the Hyrox World Championships in Sweden after representing Scotland and the United Kingdom in their age category, where they achieved an outstanding sixth place against some of the world’s best competitors.
It is a remarkable achievement for the retired teachers, who only discovered the rapidly growing fitness sport after Carol decided she wanted a new challenge ahead of a milestone birthday.
“I was coming up to a significant birthday and fancied a new challenge.
“I had been reading about this new thing called Hyrox and thought, ‘Yes, that’s for me and Charlie.'”
When the couple approached Aviemore Community Centre instructor Josh Brannan to ask whether Hyrox could be introduced locally, they had no idea plans were already well underway as High Life Highland prepared to launch the programme across its leisure facilities.
What followed has transformed not only their own lives but helped fuel the extraordinary growth of Hyrox across the Highlands.
The couple became regular faces at classes in Aviemore Community Centre, Craig MacLean Leisure Centre in Grantown on Spey and Inverness Leisure, training relentlessly to prepare for international competition and, in the two months leading up to the World Championships, committing themselves to an incredible ten training sessions every week.
The hard work paid off.
Alongside qualifying for the World Championships, Carol and Charlie claimed first place in their age category at official Hyrox events in Dublin, Oslo and Glasgow before travelling to Sweden to compete against the world’s best.
For Charlie, however, the greatest reward has not been the medals but the people they have met along the way.
“We love Hyrox.
“It’s a lovely community of friendly people and very inclusive,” he said.
“People see our Hyrox backpacks in airports or on the train and come and talk to us about it.
“It really opens up conversations.”
Their success mirrors the rapid rise of Hyrox across High Life Highland, which has expanded from classes in Aviemore and Fort William just a year ago to sessions running seven days a week across five leisure centres, with more than 1,000 people now taking part every week.
The charity has also invested in specialist equipment, new facilities and staff training, with almost 40 instructors now qualified to deliver Hyrox classes throughout the Highlands.
Graeme Ross, Head of Leisure at High Life Highland, said:
“The introduction of Hyrox has been incredibly exciting for both our customers and staff.
“It’s one of our most popular fitness offerings and is now available seven days a week across our facilities.
“What has been particularly encouraging is the enthusiasm shown by our staff, who have embraced Hyrox and genuinely enjoy delivering the sessions.
“We have seen participants of all ages and abilities get involved, improve their fitness and become part of a fantastic community.
“Carol and Charlie’s achievements demonstrate exactly what Hyrox is all about.
“Their journey from attending local classes to competing at the World Championships is inspirational and shows that fitness goals can be achieved at any age.”
For Carol, she hopes their story encourages others to take that first step, regardless of how old they are or how fit they believe themselves to be.
“Strangers come up to us and say ‘well done’.
“We are 70 and 79 and still going, we hope that we can inspire others to be physically active,” she said.
“They don’t have to be doing Hyrox; any movement is better than none at all.
“You don’t stop because you get old, you get old because you stop!”
