Nominations open this week for the Orkney Sports Hall of Fame - on your marks, get set, go!

The ball is in your court as we rally the local community for nominations for the Orkney Sports Hall of Fame.

Do you know someone who deserves to be inducted into this elite club?

You can make your nominations from Wednesday 30 August here www.orkney.gov.uk/SportsAwards.

A judging panel will decide on the winners and an announcement will be made during the annual Orkney Sports Awards event early in 2024.

The first group of sportsmen and women were inducted into the newly-established Orkney Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, followed again in 2022 and earlier this year. They were honoured for their achievements in rugby, football, wrestling, rowing, hockey, netball and swimming.

To give you an idea of the calibre of candidates, we have Olympians, those who hold international caps for their country, but also stalwarts who have made an incredible contribution to sport in Orkney.

Two Orcadian Olympians in Tom Ward, who competed at the 1936 Games held in Berlin in wrestling, and Kareen Larkin (nee Marwick), who represented Great Britain in rowing at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, were among those inducted.

Another Orcadian trailblazer inducted was Orphir’s Henry Halcro Johnston who gained two international caps for Scotland in rugby, turning out for his country in matches against England and Ireland in 1877.

Shona Slater, a stalwart of Orkney sport and the county’s record cap holder in matches against Shetland in both hockey and netball, had her name entered into the Hall of Fame, and swimming referee, Ian Gibson, who has devoted decades to the sport, officiating at the highest level and helping breed a new generation of swimming officials, was also honoured.

Five Hutchison brothers from Harray — Jackie, Freddie, Bobby, Ian and Eric — have gone down in footballing folklore, all representing the county and becoming legends of the local football scene in the process.

In January 2023 there was a special and poignant induction to the Orkney Sports Hall of Fame when the late Rae Slater, a talented and committed footballer and badminton player, representing Orkney in both sports, as well as playing in the Highland League, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His widow, Joyce, was on hand to accept his induction and join the legendary names of Orkney sport.

Active Schools Co-ordinator, Catherine Johnson, said: “We know that there is an incredible array of sporting talent and dedicated volunteers from the past and present day within Orkney. We want those already in the Hall of Fame to be joined by those worthy of a place but we need your help with nominations.

“We are looking for folk who have achieved a high level in their chosen sport or sports and have been an inspiration or positive role model. Nominees will be considered when they have retired/completed their highest level of competition or the performance of a particularly outstanding athletic achievement that warrants special recognition, such as the winner of a Commonwealth medal or setting an international record.

“We also want nominations for volunteers who have given a long and worthy service to their sport along with significant achievement in their sport, or those who have represented their sport as an administrator, coach, manager or other support role to an Orkney Junior or Open side.

“We will also consider nominations of sportspeople from bygone days. Please get in touch and let’s honour those who have a rightful place in Orkney Sports Hall of Fame.”

Contact Active Schools via email active-schools@orkney.gov.uk for further information.