Twelve local athletes awarded grants towards travel costs

Performance athletes from across seven sports in Orkney have been awarded funding from ‘Round Two’ of sportscotland’s Athlete Travel Award Scheme, to help them to continue to develop in their chosen sports.

Now in its sixth year, the scheme is a targeted partnership between sportscotland and Councils in the highlands and islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highland Councils – and is aimed at helping sports people in these regions to access high level competition and training opportunities.

In Orkney, the scheme is supported by £2k from Orkney Islands Council. Stagecoach has also invested £4.5k into this year’s scheme, helping to support even more of the county’s athletes.

The scheme helps ‘elite pathway’ athletes – athletes with potential to reach elite levels of competition and performance - from across the Highlands and Islands gain better access to high level competition and training opportunities without having to relocate from their communities.

The athletes from Orkney, who will each receive up to £750 towards costs of travel between now and March 2024, are:

1. Tamsin Blowfield – Swimming (Age 12)
2. Zara Flett – Netball (Senior)
3. Hope Henderson – Climbing (Age 16)
4. Shannon Leslie – Badminton (Age 16)
5. Max Linklater – Athletics (Age 16)
6. Taylah Paterson – Athletics (Senior)
7. Andrew Reid – Badminton (Senior)
8. Rebecca Reid – Badminton (Senior)
9. Angus Robertson – Olympic Weightlifting (Age 16)
10. Finlay Scott – Squash (Senior)
11. Ross Sinclair – Olympic Weightlifting (Senior)
12. Eve Wood – Swimming (Age 15)

Councillor Gwenda Shearer is Chair of Orkney Islands Council's Education, Leisure and Housing Committee. She said: "With the Island Games coming to Orkney in 2025, it’s an exciting time to be an elite athlete in the county – and it is support such as this which will ensure our athletes have every chance to develop to their full potential and perform at the highest possible level, no matter the arena.”

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “We have worked closely with our partners to understand the specific challenges facing athletes from Orkney and to provide a package of support that will enable them to access the training and competition they need to progress in their sport.

“It’s fantastic to see the range of sports now being supported through this latest round of the Athlete Travel Award Scheme and we hope to see many of these talented athletes competing when the Island Games come to Orkney in 2025.”

David Beaton, Managing Director of Stagecoach Highlands, said: “We're thrilled to once again be supporting athletes in Orkney through this scheme. Local communities are at the heart of everything we do at Stagecoach, and it is a great privilege to be able to help these athletes on their journey to elite sporting success."

Grant recipient Tamsin Blowfield says her grant will help her attend Junior Academy National Swimming Squad:

"I am thrilled and delighted to get invited to attend the Junior Academy National Swimming Squad, and grateful to Scottish Swimming for providing this programme - and also to everyone at Orkney Amateur Swimming Club for their help especially my coaches Kay Gilmour and Inga Burton.

"I am so pleased to be chosen to receive the Athlete Travel Award Scheme which will provide much needed financial assistance for me to attend the in person sessions delivered across Aberdeen as well as the many competitions across the year.

I've already attended one of the training sessions for the junior academy and really enjoyed the pool sessions as well as the educational and nutrition sessions.

I'm also keen to attend different competitions across the year to experience long course as well as short course swimming competitions, and long distance and short distance swims.

"I hope to gain a lot more experience and development from other coaches and swimmers who I will meet at both the training sessions and competitions."

Amounts received by athletes are based on a number of criteria including their forecasted Competition and Training schedule, understanding of the Sports Performance Pathway and National Rankings. The application process also requires athletes to evidence how the grant will improve their performance, provide them access to quality training opportunities and improve their sports or club environment.

For more information on ATAS please visit our Sports Development pages or go to www.orkney.gov.uk/atas

Back row L to R – Sarah Johnston (OIC), Eve Wood (Swimming), Max Linklater (Athletics), Finlay Scott (Squash), Richard Ryder (Stagecoach), Angus Robertson (Olympic Weightlifting), Andrew Reid (Badminton) and Elaine Harcus (OIC).

Front row L to R – Tamsin Blowfield (Swimming), Zara Flett (Netball), Hope Henderson (Climbing), Rebecca Reid (Badminton) and Taylah Paterson (Athletics).

Missing from the group photo were Ross Sinclair (Olympic Weightlifting) and Shannon Leslie (Badminton).