Orkney’s Countdown to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

With a population of only around 22,000 Orkney may be small in size, but the islands seem to be punching above their weight when it comes to producing top athletes.

Determination to succeed, coupled with top notch sporting facilities spread throughout the Mainland and smaller isles and a fantastic sporting support network offered through the Council, Picky, sportscotland and volunteers may play a part in the latest round of success stories. Orkney will play host to the 20^th International Island Games 2025, which may also be spurring on our athletes to greater their achievements.

This year’s Team Scotland representation at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (28 July – 8 August) will include four sportspeople with an Orkney connection – Taylah Spence (athletics), Ross Sinclair (not competing but in the Achieve Programme for weightlifting), Sarah Macphail (netball), who all grew up in Orkney, and then Sean Vendy (badminton) who was born in Orkney but will be competing for England.

Taylah, 23, from Dounby, is due to compete on 6 August in the 4 x 100m relay, while Team Scotland will be on the netball court on 30 and 31 July and the 2, 3 and 4 of August.

She has a week to remember coming up for she is also tying the knot on Saturday 30 July – then just two days later setting off to compete at the Games in the 4x 100m relay.

“I’m not nervous for either actually, just very excited and feeling so incredibly grateful,” the midwife said. “I’m not going to lie, it’s crazy busy with working full time, training and trying to get organised for the wedding but it’s not a bad situation to be in, I wouldn’t change it!”

Earlier this year Taylah marked her Scotland debut in spectacular fashion, setting a national record alongside Sarah Malone, Alisha Rees and Rebecca Matheson at a Diamond League meeting in Birmingham. The venue, the Alexander Stadium, will also host the athletics at the Games this summer.

The quartet’s mark of 44.75s hit the qualifying standard for the Games but to prove it was no fluke, they matched that time in Geneva less than a month later.

“Our aim will be to make the final and run faster than our Scottish record that we have ran twice this season so far. It wasn’t something that me and my coach were realistically aiming for this year, the aim was to get my first Scotland vest. But it’s been the best season of my life so far and it’s come at such a good time as it is a Games year. I’ve progressed so much that it’s opened up more opportunities for me and getting into the Commonwealth Games team is just a dream come true. It’s an honour to be representing my country doing the thing I love to do.”

As part of the Achieve Programme, local weightlifter, Ross Sinclair, 20, from Kirkwall, is hoping to gain experience training and living like a Commonwealth athlete so when his time comes to compete, he is ready.

The programme began in 2010 and aims to propel athletes and coaches from diverse backgrounds onto sporting success by preparing them for participation in the Commonwealth Youth Games, Commonwealth Games and other major sports events.

Ross, a member of the Orkney Amateur Weight Lifting Club (OAWLC), said: “The selection process is done from each sporting governing body (mine being Weight Lifting Scotland). They look at the progression of athletes throughout the years and chooses athletes with the potential of competing at a future Games.

“This experience will allow me to gain an understanding on how the Games works and how I can progress and compete at a future Games.

“It’s a hugely exciting programme to be part of and I am delighted to have been chosen.”

Ross and Taylah, along with nine other local athletes at present, benefit from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS). The Scheme is an ongoing partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Highlands & Islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils; Orkney Islands Council are extremely grateful to also have a partnership with Stagecoach which allows us to enhance and extend our programme in Orkney.

ATAS supports travel costs for Highland and Island competitors to help talented athletes from Orkney, Shetland, Highland and the Outer Hebrides gain better access to competitive and developmental opportunities available on the mainland. Successful applicants receive up to £1500 to support travel and accommodation costs in attending training and competitions.

Taylah and Sarah have both previously been part of sportscotland’s Performance Development Programme, meaning they were selected to work with physical preparation coaches who tailored and delivered strength and conditioning programmes aimed to prepare athletes and help them to progress on the world stage.

Taylah, who is also sponsored by the Pickaquoy Centre, added: “I’ve received incredible support locally from the Council through the Athlete Travel Award Scheme and various businesses have sponsored me; Orkney Builders, Kirkjuvar, McEwens Furnishing, Streamline, Lows, Marwick JCB Hire & Groundwork and R.Clouston Ltd. I’ve also received support from the ladies at Stromness Golf Club. I can’t thank everyone enough for their generosity and kindness to get me to where I am today, it means so much. My family are also incredible! Especially my mum and dad, they have always gone above and beyond to support me and they’ve done everything they can to help me get where I am today.”

Sarah said: “This is my first Commonwealth Games, and I am so excited and can't wait to get started. To compete for Scotland within netball and being a part of the greater Team Scotland at the Games is a dream come true. I hope to take everything in and enjoy the moment. I hope that we inspire and continue to celebrate netball within the country as a result – and it would be great to match our world ranking of 8th.

“Being from Orkney meant I was lucky to be introduced to many sports from a young age - netball, athletics, dance and badminton and up to the age of 18 before I headed off to university I used the Pickaquoy Centre facilities for gym and court. There have been definite plus sides to sport and training in Orkney - amazing coaching and facilities, the ability to try multiple sports and the support of having the community behind you. My grass root coaches in netball, Catherine Johnson and Karen Burns and my mum, Aly MacPhail, in athletics supported, encouraged and focused me to try and be the best I could be, ensuring I targeted important trials and competitions on the Scottish mainland.

“Once selected into the national under 15 and 17 netball squads I successfully received the OIC enhanced travel grants each season which were much needed to assist me with the substantial costs required to attend national training camps and competitions.

“At age 15 I was selected into the Institute of Sport Strength and Conditioning Programme for athletics which provided me with free personalised programmes at the Pickaquoy Centre and access to sport nutrition and wellbeing. This continued at university moving under the Netball Scotland Institute of Sport Programme.”

Orkney has an array of Council run and supported sporting, health and leisure facilities from healthy living centres, swimming pools and football pitches to sports halls and fitness suites throughout the isles and on the Mainland.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer said Orkney should be proud of its sports facilities spread throughout the isles and the achievements of our athletes.

“There are few areas in the world that can boast having such a tremendous array of sporting, health and leisure facilities, particularly when you look at what’s on offer on some of the islands with very small populations. It’s fantastic to see Orkney punching well above its weight on the national stage and surely testament to the athletes themselves, the coaches, the facilities and the ongoing support available.

“We wish our competitors all the very best of luck and hope to see some local names on the medal tables at this year’s Commonwealth Games – wouldn’t that be fantastic!”