Twelve local athletes awarded grants towards travel costs

A number of local athletes have been selected to benefit from funding to enable them to keep on track with their chosen sports.

Twelve athletes in Orkney have been awarded the sportscotland special grant to help sportspeople in regional and rural Scotland access competitive and training opportunities.

For the second time, Stagecoach will also invest a further £4.5k for this year’s scheme, helping to support even more Orkney athletes.

The Athlete Travel Award Scheme, now in its sixth year, is a partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Scotland - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

The Scheme helps ‘elite pathway’ athletes – athletes with potential to reach elite levels of competition and performance - from Scotland’s regional areas gain better access to competitive and training opportunities without having to relocate from their communities.

The athletes from Orkney, who will each receive up to £750 towards costs of travel between now and September 2023, are:

• Alfie Price – Swimming
• Andrew Reid – Badminton
• Angus Robertson – Olympic Weightlifting
• Eve Wood – Swimming
• Finlay Scott – Squash
• Hope Henderson – Climbing
• Max Linklater - Athletics
• Millie Dennison – Athletics
• Rebecca Reid – Badminton
• Ross Sinclair – Olympic Weightlifting
• Shannon Leslie – Badminton
• Zara Flett - Netball

sportscotland has allocated each of the participating local authorities £10,000 for their Schemes, with the Councils then required to top this up with £2,000 of their own funding.

Councillor Gwenda Shearer is Chair of Orkney Islands Council's Education, Leisure and Housing Committee. She said: "It’s an exciting time to be part of the sporting elite in the county with the Island Games coming to Orkney in 2025!

“This practical support is invaluable to assist them on their sporting journey and help put them on a level playing field with athletes around Scotland – vital so they have every chance to develop to their full potential.”

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “Congratulations to all the athletes who have been selected for this latest round of ATAS funding.

“Our aim is to provide athletes from Orkney with access to the best training and competition opportunities, whether that is locally or nationally. The ATAS funding is a key part of that support package and I look forward to seeing how these talented athletes progress in their sporting careers.”

David Beaton, Managing Director of Stagecoach Highlands, said: "We're thrilled to once again be supporting athletes in Orkney through this scheme. Local communities are at the heart of everything we do at Stagecoach, and it is a great privilege to be able to help these athletes on their journey to elite sporting success."

Athlete Andrew Reid said: “I am very grateful to receive support from the Athlete Travel Award Scheme for the first time. The backing of the scheme will greatly assist me in travel and accommodation when competing in Scottish ranking tournaments this coming six months.

“The funding will prove a massive help for me competing as to improve on my current Scottish National ranking. I look forward to working with ATAS over the next six months where I aim to make further steps forward in my sport.”

Alfie Price is also receiving the award for the first time and said: “I am really thankful to be receiving this award. I know that this will help me to be able to compete in events throughout the summer, in lots of different locations.”

Amounts received by athletes are based on a number of criteria including their forecasted Competition and Training schedule, understanding of the Sports Performance Pathway and National Rankings. The application process also requires athletes to evidence how the grant will improve their performance, provide them access to quality training opportunities and improve their sports or club environment.

For more information on ATAS please visit our Sports Development pages.