Orkney’s “famous five” athletes called up to represent Scotland

Orkney’s very own “famous five” young athletes are heading off on an adventure and creating a new chapter in their own sporting stories this summer!

Max Linklater (high jump), Jamie Sutherland and Lucy Kenyon (both javelin), will be representing Scotland at the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) International Meet in Grangemouth on 15 July, while Gemma Foulis and Shannon Leslie (both badminton) will be representing Scotland in the U17 European Championships in Lithuania from 4– 12 August.

The last athlete to be selected for SIAB from Orkney was Thora Cant for Kirkwall Grammar School in 2012.

The last athlete selected from Stromness Academy was Aly Kemp – who this week took bronze at the Island Games - in 2005.

There has never been three athletes selected from Orkney in the same year before

Max and Lucy will be in Guernsey for the Island Games just prior to the Scottish event, so they are having to return to Scotland early to join the team. Lucy is in her first year of the U17W age group, which makes this call up all the more special for her.

Thanks to the ongoing support of their coaches, national governing bodies, the Performance Development Programme run through Orkney Islands Council and Sport Scotland, the athletes continue to develop their skills.

The Performance Development Programme is a programme of support given to athletes on the performance pathway which includes physical preparation, performance lifestyle support, nutrition support and physio guidance.

Some of the athletes also benefit from the OIC, sportscotland and Stagecoach funded Athlete Travel Award designed to support performance or development of athletes from Orkney with their travel and accommodation costs for an agreed training and competition schedule.

There’s further good news for the sporting world in the county as Andrew Reid, Rebecca Reid, Joanne Pottinger and Alison Shearer have been selected to represent Scotland in badminton at the 4 Nations Graded International on 19 and 20 August in the Sir Craig Reedie Centre, Glasgow.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “What an incredible achievement to have a total of nine athletes from Orkney heading off to represent Scotland at various international and graded events.

“Whilst we can assist in terms of grants and funding of various schemes and development programmes, which certainly seem to be bearing fruits, we must congratulate the athletes themselves for their hard work and dedication to their chosen fields.

“They are a credit to themselves, Orkney and Scotland! I wish them all the very best of luck.”

Some of the athletes share what the selection means to them:

Sixteen-year-old Gemma Foulis, who began playing badminton around eight years ago, said: “I was called up for the U17 trials a couple years ago but didn’t get in, so this is a first for me.

“I am really looking forward to it and I am excited to get to experience getting to play for Scotland.

“It means a lot to me as I have been doing lots of training and it’s nice know some of it is starting to pay off. I am really looking forward to representing Scotland as it was one of my goals.”

Gemma’s most recent accomplishments would include being chosen to represent Orkney at the Island Games this year and playing her first international tournament in Germany.

“Some of the players we met in Germany will probably be in opposing teams and they were high quality players so I can only presume it will be the same in Lithuania.

“I don’t really have anything set to achieve as I don’t really know what to expect. I am just hoping to go there and enjoy it and try my best!”

Gemma is currently supported by sportscotland and OIC which has allowed her to use their free strength and conditioning facilities and nutrition sessions.

Shannon Leslie, 15, has followed in her mum’s footsteps, playing badminton from an early age, and competitively since she was just nine.

“This is my second Scottish call up - my first was in 2021 for the u15s quadrangular.”

Shannon recently made it to all three finals of the singles, doubles and mixed at the U17s Scottish nationals, so she’s no stranger to competition pressure.

“I am really excited and looking forward to gaining experience from playing new players from all around the world. It means a lot to me as it was one of my goals this year to be selected for the U17s Europeans and I made it.

“I am expecting it to be of a high standard and some tough games but I am going out there to gain experience and hope to win at least one game - anything else will be a bonus.”

Shannon offered her thanks to the Council for the support she has received to date.

“It really means a lot and contributed to some of the competitions I needed to go to in order to be selected for the U17s Europeans.” 

Max Linklater, competing in the high jump, explained that competing at the Island Games the week before the Grangemouth competition will be ideal preparation. He said:  This is the highest standard that I will have competed at in my own age group. I will have competed against senior men at the Island Games the week before, so that will be good preparation.  I am used to competing against the same group of boys that I have jumped against for years, so this will be very different. 

Being selected for the team makes all of the training and competitions up until now worth it.  It’s always been my aim to get a Scottish vest.  This was my main target for this year and I was really pleased when I got the selection letter.  It didn’t really sink in at first, but now I am excited to get there.

Jamie Sutherland, competing in javelin, says it’s an honour to represent his country. He said: “This opportunity means a lot to me as this is one of the targets I have always been working towards.

“It’s so good that all the work has paid off and it is such an honour to be able to compete for my country.

“I am aware that there will be some tough competition there, but I am more than aware of what I am capable of and will solely be focusing on my own performance and trying to overcome the competition.”

Lucy Kenyon, also competing in javelin, made special mention of the support received from the athletics club, sportscotland, Orkney Islands Council and local businesses. She said: “We have had a lot of support from the Orkney Athletic and Running Club - as well as Loganair, Northlink, WHB Sutherland and other local businesses are really generous with their sponsorship for our trips. 

“I don’t know for definite who is competing for the other countries yet, but there are some who are at a really high standard. I am hoping to be in the mix as yhere are a few of us throwing the same sort of distances.  I’d like to get a PB too.