Mayor trains at Dylan Arnold Fitness ahead of MAYOR-ROX Melvin Event

Mayor trains at Dylan Arnold Fitness ahead of MAYOR-ROX Melvin Event

7 May 2026

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, has been put through his paces at Dylan Arnold Fitness in Strabane as part of preparations for his upcoming Hyrox simulation event at the Melvin Sports Complex later this month.
The session, led by Coach Aodhan Gallen, gave the Mayor and other participants a first-hand experience of the functional fitness stations they will face on race day, offering valuable insight into the physical demands of the MAYOR-ROX event.
MAYOR-ROX will take place on Saturday May 30th at the Melvin Sports Complex, marking the district's first ever mass participation Hyrox simulation event.
He is promising participants an adrenaline fuelled high-energy fitness challenge at the newly extended Melvin while raising funds for his chosen charities - PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland Charity and the Castlederg Patient Comfort and Terminally Ill Fund.
The visit to Dylan Arnold Fitness was part of the Mayor's ongoing engagement with the local fitness community to build momentum around the event, which is continuing to attract strong interest with limited places now remaining.
Hyrox is a rapidly growing indoor fitness competition combining running with functional workout stations, designed to test strength, endurance and determination in a challenging but accessible format for all fitness levels.
Reflecting on the session, Mayor McHugh said it provided a valuable preview of what participants can expect on the day.
"Taking part in the session at Dylan Arnold Fitness' state of the art premises in Strabane was a fantastic experience," said Mayor McHugh.
"It really brought the Hyrox format to life and gave us a real sense of the challenge ahead.
"The energy in the gym was brilliant, and it's clear there's a real appetite for this type of event across the local fitness community.
"With places for MAYOR-ROX filling up quickly, I would encourage anyone thinking about taking part to get signed up now and avoid missing out."
Coach Aodhan Gallen welcomed the Mayor to the gym and highlighted the growing excitement around the event.
"We were delighted to host the Mayor and the group for this training session in the lead-up to MAYOR-ROX," he said.
"These sessions are a great way for people to experience the format, build confidence and prepare both physically and mentally for the challenge ahead.
"There's a real buzz building as the event approaches, and with limited places remaining, we'd encourage anyone interested to get involved while they still can."
MAYOR-ROX will see participants take on a series of running and functional workout stations in a high-energy, race-style format, with options available for individual competitors as well as relay teams.
Funds raised from the event will support the Mayor's chosen charities, PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland and the Castlederg Patient Comfort and Terminally Ill Fund.
Registration remains open at www.derrystrabane.com/mayorrox, with a minimum donation of £50 required to take part.
Participants are also encouraged to undertake additional fundraising in support of the Mayor's charities.
Full event details, including safety guidance and code of conduct, are available on the website.
For further information or to donate to the Mayor's charities visit www.derrystrabane.com/mayor.