Westray set to host 67th North Isles Sports

Athletes of all ages, along with a vast number of spectators, will descend on Westray this Saturday, as the island hosts the ever-popular, and fiercely competitive, annual North Isles Sports.

The competition — now in its 67th year — will see Westray, Sanday and Stronsay face each other, while Papay — which will also be entering a side into the tug o’ war — will be determined to retain the football title they won last year.

With field and track athletics taking place, as well as football, netball and the famed tug o’ war competition, the 67th competition looks certain to be another memorable day for the North Isles.

Sanday won the Schools’ Cup and Millennium Cup on their way to last year’s overall triumph, while Westray lifted the Senior Challenge Shield.

Catherine Johnson, from Orkney Islands Council’s Active Schools team, who assists in organising the event, said that the competition remains integral to the islands.

“The North Isles Sports Day is the only day that all the islands come together. It is a really important day that ensures the community spirit is alive within the islands, and that the communities interact and keep the island spirit going.”