Elite Squad
supporting Oban’s sporting stars of tomorrow
The Elite Squad is an initiative by Atlantis Leisure and PlaySport designed to recognise those who are achieving excellence in their chosen sport. Elite Squad members are identified individuals who are competing at regional level and above. Membership in the Elite Squad offers access to free training facilities and onward support from Atlantis to assist in maintaining fitness and the various disciplines associated with member’s particular sports.
The scheme is administered and operated by the PlaySport committee to enable talented sportspeople to train and reach their full potential without the financial burden of costs associated with the use of facilities.
Current Members
Check out the current roster that make up the Atlantis Elite Squad today:
Jodie Hoey | Powerlifting
Jodie took up powerlifting during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep herself fit at home during the lockdown. She began to compete at the beginning of 2022. She placed second in her u57kgs weight class in February 2022’s West of Scotland Championships. This qualified Jodie for the Scottish Championships in June where she secured another second place. As a result, Jodie was selected to compete for Scotland in the Commonwealth Championships being held in New Zealand in November. massive achievement led to Jodie being selected to complete for Scotland in the Commonwealth Championships to be held in New Zealand from November 28.
Watch the video to find out more and follow Jodie’s journey via her online channels.
Alison Roger | Triathlon
“I have competed for GBR in the age group team. Triathlon is great in the respect that it is age graded, so you get to compete at a high level even after 30!
I have been a regular member of Atlantis for many years! Coming to classes, the gym and after having children I taught myself to swim there! So I have come a long way in the Atlantis pool! I mainly use the pool for my training, particularly working on technique during the winter. I am very grateful for the elite membership, it allows me to use the pool and other facilities as and when needed. My sport is self funded so the membership is a great support financially. There are weeks when I would train in the open water, other times I can’t so have the convenience of the pool. The staff are always really helpful and great at giving me feedback.
The highlight of my sporting career was going to Slovakia in 2022 and competing for GB in the World Long Distance Aquabike championships, the whole experience was fantastic and the icing on the cake was a bronze medal. None of it happened without a massive amount of hard work and commitment, plus a great deal of support from family and friends.
For anyone interested in triathlon I would suggest just giving one a go! There are plenty novice or beginner ones around, the triathlon community tends to be very supportive and friendly. I found it a great sport that was compatible with family life as I could grab a swim, or a run or a cycle when the opportunity arose!
Thank you very much to Atlantis for their support.”
Alison Roger
Past Members
Check out some of the former Elite Squad members who have gone on to become international athletes in their fields:
Susie Wolff | Motorsport
Oban native Susie Wolff started her career in motorsports when she began driving go-karts. She went on to make history throughout various motorsport history, becoming the first woman in twenty-two years to compete in a Formula 1 race weekend. From karting, Susie then moved on to Formula Renault and DTM for Mercedes-Benz before making her way to Formula 1.
Away from motorsport, Susie is an instrumental figure in the sporting world as a whole, doing a huge amount of work to promote women in sport. As a result, she received an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh having previously paused her studies at the University’s Business School to pursue her professional career.
Susie retired from driving in 2015, creating Girls on Track, a campaign designed to increase women’s involvement in motorsports at all levels. For her achievements in the field of women’s sport, Susie received an MBE in 2017.
Robert MacIntyre | Golf
With his father a greenkeeper and his back garden Oban’s Glencruitten Golf Club, you could say it was somewhat inevitable that Robert ‘Bob’ MacIntyre would go on to find success at golf. Bob had a successful amateur career winning both the Scottish Youths Championship and the Scottish Boys Open Stroke-Play Championship in 2013 which set the tone for an increasing string of amateur wins over the next few years.
Bob turned professional in late 2017, playing his first two pro events in October of the same year on the MNEA Golf Tour and Ayla Golf Championshi pbefore going on to win the Sahara Kuwait Championship.
In November 2020, Bob claimed his first European Tour title at the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown before going on to win his second European Tour event at the Italian OPen in September 2022.
A proud Obanite, Bob played shitny for Oban Camanachd as a teenager - he now plays for Oban Celtic when his schedule allows.
Ben Cathro | Mountain Biking
Growing up just outside Benderloch, Ben Cathro was somewhat destined to become a mountain bike rider. With the Ben Lora woods on his doorstep, he was presented with a ready-made training environment in which to hone his skills and learn his craft. Together with fellow Elite Squad member Chris Hutchens, the pair rose up through the ranks of the Scottish Downhill ranks, before making names for themselves at national then international level.
Now based in Pitlochry, Ben is a well-known media figure in the sport, doing a huge amount to help young people develop their cycling. Ben leads the PinkBike Racing mountain bike team, returning to top-flite international racing at the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup in 2022.