When Hoci meets Hyrox

Hoci Cymru staff may be busy enough governing and supporting the game across Wales, but that doesn’t stop them venturing into other sports and supporting other athletes. 

The organisation’s Hockey Development Officer for the South East, Matt Davies, is key to enabling hockey to thrive in his region.  

His role involves supporting hockey clubs across the South East, aiding their development and driving participation to get more and more people into the sport.  

Aside from hockey, however, Matt is just one of many Hoci Cymru staff members that boast another sporting love: the ever-increasingly popular sport of Hyrox. 

A gruelling test of grit, determination and stamina, the sport comprises of eight sequences of a 1km run and a fitness challenge, which can include 1km on a standing ski machine, 50m of sled push, 80m burpee jumps, a 50m sled pull, 1km indoor rowing, carrying a kettlebell 200m, 100m lunges carrying a sandbag, and 100 throws and catches of a medicine ball off a wall. 

In May, Wales hosted its first ever Hyrox event, with thousands descending upon the iconic Principality Stadium to put themselves through their paces. 

And part of the congregation that opted to keep their shirts on, Matt was there… two-fold.  

The Hoci Cymru Hockey Development Officer completed the challenge twice, once competing in Men’s Doubles before returning to compete in Mixed Doubles. 

And, as if doubling up on the pain wasn’t enough, Matt and his fellow competitors decided to go the extra mile and complete an extra lap each rotation, effectively running twice as much.  

In the Men’s Doubles, Matt finished with a time of 01:30:00, before completing the course in 01:49:32 alongside Naz Kahn, who would finish second in her category at the event.  

 “It was a fantastic day at the Principality,” Matt told us. “It was such a well-run event for everyone there, with various abilities shining throughout.” 

Founded in 2017, the sport is becoming a global phenomenon; in 2023, London-based Hyrox events in London welcomed 24,000 participants, and the sport’s popularity is only increasing. 

“It’s an amazing sport,” Matt continued. “The variety of work, running and pushing the body in different ways is quite unique, and it doesn’t take long at all to get really into it!”