Twelve talented athletes from across the Highlands have secured support through the latest round of the Highland Athlete Travel Award Scheme, helping them overcome the challenges of training and competing from some of Scotland’s most remote communities.

The funding, delivered through a partnership between sportscotland and High Life Highland, will help athletes competing at regional, national and international level in sports ranging from athletics and cycling to squash, badminton, cricket and judo.

The Athlete Travel Award Scheme was established in 2020 to support performance athletes living in Highland communities who often face significant travel costs to attend training camps, competitions and development opportunities.

Alongside financial support, recipients are also given access to High Life Highland facilities across the region to help support their fitness, strength and sporting development.

Among those receiving support this year is Caithness athlete Billy Sutherland, who recently earned automatic selection for Scotland after finishing second at the Scottish Hill Championships in the Scottish Borders.

The talented young runner will represent Scotland later this month at the Under 18 Mountain Running Cup in Italy.

Billy Sutherland said:

“I’m really grateful to receive this support.

“Travelling to competitions and training camps can be challenging from the north, so this funding makes a big difference.

“Being selected for Scotland Under 18s is a huge honour, and this support will help me focus on performing at my best.”

The latest round of awards also includes Inverness squash player Jessica Craig Gould, who regularly competes across Scotland and the wider UK on the national junior circuit.

She recently represented Scotland at the Five Nations tournament in Dublin and says the support will help her continue developing her game.

Jessica Craig Gould said:

“I’m very grateful to receive this support from High Life Highland and sportscotland.

“It will really help with the costs of travelling to competitions and training opportunities and allow me to keep progressing in my sport.”

High Life Highland says the scheme plays an important role in ensuring talented athletes are not disadvantaged by geography when pursuing their sporting ambitions.

Darren Reid, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at High Life Highland said:

“At High Life Highland we are delighted to be able to support our talented athletes as they aim to succeed in their chosen sport and make the nation proud.

“It’s all about ensuring they are given the best possible opportunities to excel at the highest levels of competition, and the Athlete Travel Award Scheme and the benefits that come with it have a key role to play in helping dreams become reality.”

The scheme supports athletes from Highland, Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, helping them access competitive opportunities that might otherwise be difficult because of travel costs.

This year’s Highland recipients include athletes from Inverness, Mid Ross, Easter Ross and Caithness, demonstrating the breadth of sporting talent emerging across the region.

For these athletes, the support offers more than financial assistance.

It provides an opportunity to compete, develop and represent their communities on bigger stages while continuing their journey towards sporting success.

The full list of Highland ATAS recipients is below: