Tait is the star of the show after gold medal success

Anna Tait became the new star of Orkney’s 2017 Island Games campaign, as she claimed an emphatic gold and a new Island Games record.

Tait led from the front in the 1,500m and held off a late challenge from Rachael Franklin, of the Isle of Man, to clinch a scintillating gold.

The Kirkwall runner’s time of 4.24.15 also etched her name in the NatWest Island Games record books, beating Franklin’s record by almost a second.

The atmosphere at the Gutavallen athletic track was simply electric as Tait dominated the race in the Gotland sunshine. Backed by a large and vocal Orkney team, she crossed the line, with the Orkney contingent in the stands ecstatic.

That let Tait take top place on the podium — something which hasn’t happened since Bobby Oag in Bermuda four years ago — with the Orkney flag flying high.

The footballers meanwhile, lost out to a very strong Jersey side 3-0 to end the group stages in third place. They will now have a day off to recuperate and recover after three games in three days, before playing their placing match on Thursday.

Kerris Sinclair competed in the 800m freestyle final, while the archers and badminton was also in competition throughout the day.

In their first day of competition, Orkney’s golfers put in a good showing to sit fifth in the team competition. Michael Schinkel shot a two-over-par 74 for the best Orkney score of the day, with Ewan Rendall on 77, Hamish Gorn on 79 and Scott Walls on 86.

Bobby Spence also competed in the ISSF 10m Air Rifle final, finishing seventh, while Erin Montgomery and Molly Cant participated in the shot putt, before Tait’s five-star performance.