Hoy on Hoy event - save the date!

Olympian Sir Chris Hoy has confirmed he will visit Orkney in April to officially open the newly refurbished Scapa Flow Museum and celebrate with the community.

The Hoy on Hoy event was originally planned to take place last autumn soon after the redeveloped Museum opened its doors to the public, but was postponed as a mark of respect following the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Now, Sir Chris is set to finally complete the honours on 29 April.

The Hoy on Hoy event is funded by EventScotland through the Community Cycling Fund and will also seek to promote cycling across Orkney and inspire interest in the 2023 UCI* Cycling World Championships taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3-13 August this year.

It promises to be both an event to inspire a love for cycling, and a showcase of Hoy's vibrant community and a celebration of the new Scapa Flow Museum as a hub and world class tribute to Scapa Flow's unique role as naval nerve centre in the World Wars.

Sir Chris will lead a short community cycle ride round the former naval base at Lyness where the Museum is located.

It is hoped to also incorporate a longer cycling challenge into the proceedings.

A range of community organisations and local businesses will also be involved, proudly showcasing the island's heritage and attractions.

Gold man Hoy is eleven-times a world champion and six-times an Olympic champion.

With a total of seven Olympic medals, six gold and one silver, Hoy is one of the most decorated Olympic cyclists of all time.

Orkney Islands Council Leader James Stockan said: “The Hoy community are immensely proud of their island, their heritage and of their new world class Museum. What better way to mark this than have the facility opened by Sir Chris Hoy – on his namesake island. I look forward to seeing the community come together to mark this momentous ‘Hoy on Hoy’ event and hope it will help spread awareness of Hoy and Orkney’s rich wartime heritage with enthusiasts the world over.”

Scapa Flow Museum charts Orkney’s military and civilian involvement in the First and Second World Wars and provides a safe home for a major collection of wartime artefacts, many of national and international importance.

Its £4.3 million redevelopment, comprising an extension to the Museum and refurbishment of the historic pumphouse, was completed last July and was supported by Orkney Islands Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 programme, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NatureScot and Museums Galleries Scotland.

Before its closure for refurbishment, the Museum attracted 14,000 visitors each year. The new climate controlled galleries means the Museum now opens for longer throughout the year (March - December) encouraging more people to visit Hoy and boosting tourism throughout the island.

More details of the event will be available on the Hoy and Walls Community Page on Facebook over coming weeks, and shared on the Council’s OIC Updates facebook page and on www.orkney.gov.uk/hoyonhoy

Changes to Hoy ferry and Public Bus Service #2: Kirkwall-Houton service

The below is the amended timetable for the Kirkwall-Houton bus service (Service 2) on Saturday 29 April 2023. This amended timetable is for Saturday 23 April only to co-incide with the change in ferry timetables for the 'Hoy on Hoy' community event and visit by Sir Chris Hoy to Lyness, Hoy. To view the amended ferry timetable for Saturday 29 April visit the Orkney Ferries website www.orkneyferries.co.uk.

Notes:

*The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body of cycling, recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was founded on 14 April 1900 in Paris (France)

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. We secure and support an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. We provide funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry. EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation. We exist alongside Business Events and Development Teams. Would you like more information about EventScotland, its funding programmes or latest event news?

Visit eventscotland.org

Follow @EventScotNews on Twitter

Follow us on LinkedIn