Aviemore hopeful going for 'strongest teenage' crown
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Two High Life Highland members of staff have recently made some astonishing local, national, and international sporting achievements.
Baxter’s River Ness 10k Marathon happened on Sunday, October 1 with thousands of participants joining in with the hopes of earning a new personal best run-time.
Amongst those participants was Catriona Fraser, High Life Highland’s combined Leisure Manager for Invergordon and Alness Leisure Centres, who took 2nd place in the Women’s Title!
Catriona represented the local athletics club ‘Inverness Harriers’, who had over 70 members participating in various runs on the day, as well as the Ross-shire area alongside 3rd place Woman’s Title, Caitlyn Heggie.
Catriona shared: “I was absolutely delighted to finish second after a lot of hard work fitting in training the last year or so.
“I was very lucky on the day that everything came together. It was also great to see young
Caitlin coming through the ranks and I am sure she will be someone to watch in the future.”
Meanwhile, the strath's own Joel Aragoneses, a High Life Highland Leisure Assistant and Fitness Instructor at Aviemore Leisure Centre, will be bidding to be crowned one of Europe’s strongest teenagers tomorrow.
Whilst leading classes including circuits, spinning and barbell training at High Life Highland, Joel has diligently trained for two years, previously claiming the Campeonato de Espana Junior-
Subjunior de Powerlifting Carranque under-18 title in the -105kgs category whilst still attending Kingussie High School.
Following an unfortunate injury in training, Joel had to forfeit his place at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation Junior World Championships earlier this year in Cluj Napoca, Romania.
However, Joel has bounced back to now participate in the 2023 European Powerlifting Federation Junior Championships tomorrow (Tuesday, October 10) in Budapest, Hungary.
Joel added: “There’s no way to completely fail unless you completely quit.
“My recent injury has been a setback I will overcome, and the facilities in Aviemore Community will be key to supporting my training programme to become World Champion.”
Steve Walsh, High Life Highland’s chief executive, concluded: “It’s great to see High Life Highland’s employees excelling in sport.
“As an ex-world champion powerlifter and competitive weightlifter myself, I understand the commitment, skill, and drive required to get to the level that Joel has achieved and hope to join
in for a workout soon.
“Keeping up with Catriona is a different matter though, and I think I’ll pass on going for that lunchtime jog with her for the time being!
“All these athletes are a credit to themselves and their respective sports, everyone at High Life Highland is super proud of their achievements.”
