Orkney teacher recognised for her “unmatched dedication” to athletics

An Orkney teacher has been named a recipient of one of the prestigious Eric Liddell Recognition Awards for her “unmatched dedication” to the Orkney Athletic and Running Club. 

Club Manager and Welfare Officer, Inga Linklater, was surprised and delighted to receive the accolade. 

“It was a complete shock I must admit, as I had absolutely no idea I had been nominated for it. It was a huge surprise but a very special one.” 

The awards form part of the Eric Liddell 100 programme of events and activities to recognise and celebrate the life, sporting and community service achievements of one of Scotland’s iconic figures. 

Celebrating some of the outstanding individuals that contribute to athletics in Scotland, scottishathletics have awarded 20 Eric Liddell Recognition Awards this year. 

Inga has been a member of the club for eight years and was quick to pay tribute to all volunteers and athletes that make up a fantastic team of folk. 

“Every club in Orkney relies on a bank of volunteers and we are no different. We have an amazing group of volunteers, including the coaching team, the Board and the officials. Across Orkney, lots of folk are giving up their time to help others and ensure that sports and activity clubs can thrive.  

“I love what I do and am passionate about the club. Part of our mission and our vision is for the club to be as inclusive as possible. Our youngest member is 9 and our oldest 78 – and we value every single one of them just the same.  

“Whether it be enjoying the sport, keeping fit, competing and going away to competitions elsewhere, there is so much to be gained whilst making memories that last a lifetime – and new friends along the way.  

“This is a really exciting time for sport in Orkney and our club; we recently had the new track open at Picky and we are building towards next summer and the Island Games.  

“We have 54 athletes who have declared an interest in being on the team and around 40 of them will probably end up competing for Orkney. There’s huge promise and we have medal hopes, but it’s also about the invaluable experience that will be gained by participating in an event like this on home turf. 

“It is such a privilege to be involved in sport at this time – I feel very lucky.” 

Paying tribute to Inga, scottishathletics said: “Inga’s dedication to her club is unmatched, going above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly. As an island club, travel to competitions on the mainland is hugely important to our athletes’ development, but difficult to organise and expensive. Inga has played a crucial role in improving access to these opportunities as a volunteer on club trips, including driving a minibus, arranging travel and accommodation, and seeking sponsorship to minimise the cost to athletes.” 

scottishathletics CEO, Colin Hutchison, said: “It has been incredibly special to honour the legacy of Eric Liddell this year through our Eric Liddell Recognition Awards.  

“Our sport is full of incredible people who uphold the values of passion, compassion and integrity, and it has been a privilege to be able to recognise some of them on this special anniversary. Congratulations to all the winners.”