Nineteen athletes from across Orkney will benefit from the latest round of funding through the Athlete Travel Award Scheme as young sportspeople continue competing at national and international level.
Now in its ninth year, the Athlete Travel Award Scheme helps elite athletes across the Highlands and Islands manage the significant costs of travelling to training sessions and competitions while continuing to live within their local communities.
Funding in Orkney is provided through a partnership involving sportscotland, Orkney Islands Council and new sponsors Orkney Builders.
Among this year’s successful applicants is Scotland Under 15s netball player Rosa Leonard who travels regularly from Orkney to Glasgow for training camps and development sessions.
Rosa said:
“I started playing netball in Primary One when Orkney Active Schools came into Papdale Primary.
“I remember really enjoying it from the start.
“Watching older players compete at national level was really inspiring, and now I’m part of the Scotland Under 15s squad, travelling to Glasgow once or twice a month to train.
“Getting to Glasgow from Orkney isn’t easy.
“I’ve had to fly each time because of school and exams, and one of my parents always has to come with me.
“It’s a big commitment for my family, so receiving this funding has been really helpful.
“It’s great to know I’m being supported by Orkney while I’m representing Scotland.
“I really hope to be selected for the UK School Games in September, and I’ll be at the Scotland Under 17s trials in August too.
“In the meantime I’m training twice a week at home to keep building my strength and fitting in hockey on top of that.”
The athletes awarded funding this year represent a wide range of sports including athletics, rugby, swimming, football, squash, volleyball, badminton, kickboxing, powerlifting, weightlifting and netball.
Orkney Builders Managing Director Stephen Kemp said:
“It is fantastic to see an ever increasing number of local athletes across a multitude of sports achieving at a high level, however I’m acutely aware of the financial burden attached to the very regular travel commitment that is required to attend developmental opportunities and competitions across the UK.
“It is therefore really nice to have the opportunity to support ATAS and help these athletes a little as they travel away week in, week out.
“They’re incredibly dedicated, and they really are putting Orkney on the map!”
Chair of the Council’s Education, Communities and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said:
“So many of our athletes are competing on the national and international stage and that is, in part, thanks to supportive schemes such as ATAS.
“Congratulations to all 19 athletes on their successful bids, and a very warm welcome to Orkney Builders as our new sponsor.
“Their support will make a real difference to our sporting community.”
For island athletes, talent alone is often only part of the challenge, with travel costs and geography creating hurdles many mainland competitors never face.
Schemes like ATAS continue to play a vital role in helping young athletes from Orkney pursue opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.
