Wildfire warning as fire service advises against barbecues
Shetland may be at risk of wildfire this weekend, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has warned. An extreme risk of wildfire is in…
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Man injured in disturbance near Team Shetland’s island games accommodation
A 44-year-old man has been taken to hospital following a disturbance near to where members of Team Shetland were staying for the island games.
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The Compass Centre appoints new managing director
The Compass Centre has appointed Debbie Sangster as its new managing director.
Ms Sangster has over 14 years of experience across multiple sectors, most recently with the mental health
charity See Me Scotland based in Glasgow.
“I am delighted to be taking the helm at the Compass Centre and continuing to support the staff to deliver this valued service in the local community,” she said.
“I have visited Shetland many times and am looking forward to making my home here.”
The organisation said Ms Sangster was “well equipped” to lead the centre into a new chapter and would build on the “solid foundation” established by Linda Gray and Lisa Ward.
During the period Ms Gray and Ms Ward were leading the centre, the number of staff working at the organisation grew from two to nine.
The Compass Centre provides free, inclusive and confidential support and information to any non-perpetrating person of any gender aged 13+ in Shetland affected by sexual violence.
For further information or support, visit here.
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In this week’s Shetland Times
In today’s (Thursday, 17th July) edition of The Shetland Times:
• Shetland gets searing start to Island Games in Orkney. Catchup on all the action and photographs in an eight-page supplement.
• 6,000 tonne Fish Holm salmon farm is sent back to consultation.
• EXCLUSIVE: Islanders rubbish VisitScotland’s claim that Unst is “easy to reach”.
• ENERGY: Fallout after Labour ditches zonal energy idea.
• Climate change has brought Lerwick’s hottest July day in more than three decades — and more flies?
• Shetland falls under Russian attack in simulated “war game”.
• ARTS: Shetland’s first woman-empowered music and arts festival gathers steam.
• SPORT: Hear from walking football world champs, Forvik.
Sailors keen to get going, as they wait for wind
The sailing team was patiently waiting for more wind on Wednesday morning, somewhat
ironically after having plenty of it the previous two days.
Shetland team manager Darren Forrest, also a competitor of course, shared his thoughts on
the action so far.
In the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) 6 category, formerly the radial class,
Michael Tait was as high as sixth at one stage but had settled in eighth position by the end
of the third day.
Team mate Willum Leask was lying in the middle of the field after a disappointing start on
Sunday.
Forrest said: “Willum is getting more consistent results now and is back up to 10th. He had a
pretty decent day yesterday.
“Tuesday was very windy so it was very challenging, with 19 to 20 knots and peak gusts of
25 knots.
”Monday was pretty mental as well. But to be truthfully honest it gives everyone an
opportunity to find their right wind strength. We don’t mind 10-15 knots too much and there
are guys who are good in the light stuff as well.”
Forrest and his colleague Adrian Wishart are sailing in the ILCA 7 category (formerly the full
rig) and were in ninth and 18th places after the third day.
“It wasn’t too good at first,” he said. “But things have got a bit better and I’m slowly picking
my way through the fleet.
“I’m currently ninth which is nice, given the standard we are up against. Arthur Farley from
the Isle of Wight is part of the British squad. That’s some difference of breed but we feel that
can inspire you and keep you going.”
Farley was well ahead in the ILCA 7 after three days with only two points separating Josh
Metcalf and Alistair Dickson (Ynys Mon), Timothy Dunn (Isle of Man) and Harry White (Isle
of Wight) in positions two to five.
In the ICLA 6 class Oliver Mayo (Isle of Wight) was in a similar position, streaking away from
the rest of the field. Ines Maria Abreu Garcia from Menorca and Will Jackson of the Cayman
Islands was lying second equal.
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Terrific medal haul on Tuesday
There were another seven medals in the bag for Team Shetland on Tuesday, taking the total to 11.
This update was recorded before two of these medals were won.
SILVER: Bowls medal secured by men’s pair
Shetland’s men have won the silver in the bowl’s pairs competition.
Alex Elphinstone and Gibbie Pottinger narrowly lost to Orkney in the gold/silver decider.
Anderson steps in to fill gap between posts
Katie Anderson will get her chance between the sticks for Shetland’s women’s team this afternoon after keeper Jessica Laurenson was ruled out through injury.
Laurenson made way for Anderson after 80 minutes of play in the 2-0 defeat to Jersey yesterday (Monday), with the latter taking her place.
Speaking to The Shetland Times this afternoon, a gutted Adam Priest said that was the last time Laurenson would compete during these games.
The regular number one was determined to play on but the coaching staff made the call to bring her off with minutes to play.
“It shows how much they’re all wanting to put into it,” Priest said.
“[We just] need to regroup and go again.”
Members of the coaching staff had a late night with Laurenson at the hospital who sustained a knee injury.
Shetland women face Bermuda at the Kirkwall Grammar School pitch 2 this afternoon at 3.30pm.
Coastguard to offer tours of its emergency towing vessel
Members of the public will be able to take a tour around the coastguard’s emergency towing vessel when she calls in to Lerwick later this week.
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Sailors have mixed bag of results
Shetland’s sailors had mixed results on day one of the competition in Kirkwall Bay.
After the first two races in the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) 7 category Darren Forrest and Adrian Wishart finished fairly well down the field, in 15th and 17th places overall respectively out of 19.
However, in the ILCA 6 race Michael Tait sailed well to come in fifth and eighth (fifth overall).
His team mate Willum Leask was 15th and 12th (15th overall), out of an entry of 22.
Ines Maria Abreu Garcia of Menorca was in first place in the ILCA 6 category, while Arthur Farley, representing the Isle of Wight, led the ILCA 7 section.
LISTEN: Island games brief update day two
After winning the first medal of the island games, triathlete Louise Parr spoke to The Shetland Times about the success.
Also joining the island games brief update is sports columnist Jim Tait, who reviews the day’s events from Sunday.
SILVER: Women triathletes win first Shetland medal of games
Team Shetland’s women’s triathletes have gone one better than 2023 and secured the first medal of the International Island Games.
Louise Parr finished fourth overall, in the race in a time of 02:26:12.
Lynsey Henderson was sixth (02:31:13), Emma Leask 12th (02:37:42) and Wendy Hatrick 22nd (03:11:03).
The side picked up the silver medal for their efforts.
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First triathletes complete race at island games
James Irvine was the first Shetland triathlete across the finish line in today’s event at the Orkney island games.
Irvine was sixth to complete the course – although there has not been an official time yet.
Andy Aitken and Lewis Anderson followed Irvine soon after.
In the women’s triathlon, only Louise Parr has completed the race, finishing fourth overall.
James Irvine officially completed the race in two hours seven minutes and one second.
Andrew Aitken finished 21st (02:07:01), Lewis Anderson 25th (02:18:53) and Andrew Grant 27th (02:20:01).
Island games brief update – Sunday
The International Island Games has officially been opened and The Shetland Times has you covered for your daily fix.
Every day there will be updates online with an audio briefing, reflecting on the day before and looking ahead to what is to come.
Below is the first of our audio updates from reporter Kevin Craigens.
Sun pillars light up evening sky
A rare phenomenon known as sun pillars was spotted throughout the isles yesterday evening (Friday).
These vertical shafts of light can extend above or below the sun and most commonly appear during sunrise or sunset – with Kenny Williamson photographing the pillars in Gonfirth, Eid and Voe.
Sun pillars are formed when sunlight reflects off ice crystals which are often found in high-altitude cirrus clouds.
While they can occur at any time of the year, sun pillars are typically seen in winter, making this sighting all the more unusual.
The crystals act like mirrors which reflects the sunlight and emulate a long column of light.
Send in your images from this weekend by emailing editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk
Games squad set for week of sport
Team Shetland are on board the the NorthLink ferry to travel to Orkney for the International Island Games.
More than 160 competitors and officials will represent the blues for the 20th edition of the showcase of sport.
While some of the team have already travelled taking equipment to the Northern Isles neighbour, most of the team will be travelling together.
Speaking to this newspaper, Shetland Island Games Association secretary Bob Kerr said the two years since the last island games in Guernsey had “flown by”.
“It feels like you’re only just back from the last games, when the next island, Orkney of course, then starts asking for details about our sports and our teams and so on,” said Kerr.
“We had the preview visit last July, which feels literally like yesterday.”
Team Shetland won seven medals at the Guernsey games in 2023 (three silver and four bronze). While Orkney won two (one silver and one bronze).
Hrossey left at 4.30pm with arrival in Kirkwall at by 10pm.
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Forvik Walking Football crowned world champions
Forvik Walking Football over 45s were crowned world champions at a tournament held in the Swedish city of Malmö.
The team, whose honorary president is sovereignty campaigner Stuart Hill, lifted the trophy on Sunday after winning four of their group matches six matches before winning in the semi-finals and final.
Taking place over the whole weekend, Forvik over 45s beat England twice (4-1 and 5-2), hosts Sweden twice (3-2 on both occasions) but lost to Poland twice (2-0 and 4-1) in the group stages.
Forvik progressed to the semi-finals of the four-team tournament to face England, who they beat 3-1, before winning 5-4 on penalties in the close-to-call final over Sweden.
An over 60s side was also entered by Forvik Walking Football but they lost nine of their 10 games – drawing once.
They scored a total of seven goals while conceding 45.
Forvik Walking Football was formed in 2023 when founder Rob Haworth, approached Hill about naming the club after Forvik.
At the time, Hill said Rob Haworth supported Forvik’s “ethos of self-determination” and had asked about playing under their name.
Rob’s brother Andy – who started a League Cup match for then-Premier League side Blackburn in 2008 – has also represented Forvik.
He has also previously played for Falkirk, Bury and Notts County.
According to the side’s official website, Andy Haworth is the top scorer for the over 45s – netting 28 times in 14 appearances.
Rob Haworth is the joint most-capped player for Forvik Walking Football with 24 appearances. He has also bagged 10 goals in that time.
Hill was jailed for three months in June, after he refused to comply with an unpaid work order.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court Sheriff Ian Cruickshank ordered Hill to complete 75 hours of unpaid work the week previously after he failed to pay an outstanding fine issued at Kirkwall Sheriff Court in 2017.
Sheriff Cruickshank said he did not want to send an 82-year-old man to jail – but added Hill’s actions had left him with no other option.
When the case was first called Hill claimed the court had “no authority” over him, describing it as a “legal fiction”.
He continued to challenge the court’s jurisdiction but the sheriff had heard enough.
Levenwick driver banned and fined
A Levenwick man who was caught drug driving was given a hefty fine and banned from getting behind the wheel for a year.
Lewis John Tait admitted two charges at Lerwick Sheriff Court on yesterday (Wednesday).
He was caught with 32 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood while behind the wheel of his car. The limit is 50 microgrammes.
The 29-year-old was also found to be more than 14 times over the limit of cocaine’s metabolised form in his blood (724 microgrammes per litre). The limit is 50 microgrammes.
Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie told the court Tait was stopped by police for a minor matter on 22nd January at around 11pm.
Tait co-operated with police when he was stopped.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said the former truck driver had previously spent two years working in Aberdeen, where he found his friend had committed suicide.
This was a “difficult” period for Tait, Mr Allan said.
And since his arrest, his client had refrained from using any illegal substances.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank ordered Tait to pay a £1,000 fine and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
Greater sand plover is first for Shetland
A greater sand plover was discovered in Unst yesterday evening (Wednesday) – marking the first record for Shetland.
The bird was spotted by visiting birdwatcher Tom Rosas in Haroldswick.
These plovers breed in the semi-deserts of Central Asia, from Turkey to eastern Mongolia. While in the winter, they head to coastal areas of East Africa, South Asia and Australasia.
Greater sand plovers are considered a very rare vagrant to Western Europe – with the last sighting of the species in the UK in Northumberland last July.
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