Team Scotland Commonwealth “dream come true” for Orkney’s Sarah

Competing for Team Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Games for the first time is a dream come true for Orkney athlete Sarah MacPhail.

The 24-year-old from Kirkwall will be part of Team Scotland’s netball contingent competing at the Games in Birmingham’s NEC on 30 and 31 July and 2, 3 and 4 of August.

“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.”

Sarah, who has been part of the Scotland squad for U15, U17, captained the U21s, competed in the 2019 Netball World Cup for the Scottish Thistles and the Netball Superleague as part of the Sirens Franchise for the past three years, believes her sporting journey has been made all the more special because of the support from home.

“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.”

There have also been challenges, Sarah acknowledged, specifically in terms of the increased travel and time required to attend training and competitions on the mainland.

However, she is testament to that fact that island living is no barrier to achieving great results in the field of sport.

Sarah added: “My netball journey will continue with the next Superleague season and onto selections for the 2023 Netball World Cup next summer.

“I am proud to be Orcadian and to have a local newspaper who continues to follow me, celebrate and share my success with the Orkney community. It is very special to know that my home community is always with me enjoying my netball journey.”