Picky Sponsorship Programme

Picky Sponsorship Programme 2023 / 2024

The Picky Sponsorship Programme is designed to support performance or development athletes from Orkney with their training by offering them a one-year ActiveLife membership. The scheme is funded by The Pickaquoy Centre Trust and will support individuals that are taking part in recognised sports.

The Picky Sponsorship Programme awards ten athletes an ActiveLife membership giving them unlimited access to The Pickaquoy Centre and all 11 Council owned leisure facilities across the islands. 

We are no longer accepting applications for the upcoming year. Applications will reopen in February 2024.

 Picky Sponsorship Press Release 2023/24

The Pickaquoy Centre Trust has once again chosen ten athletes to support for the next year through the Picky Sponsorship Programme.

The programme awards selected athletes an ActiveLife membership for 12 months, giving them unlimited access to The Pickaquoy Centre and Council owned leisure facilities across the islands.

 

The successful recipients are:

Andrew Reid - Badminton

Angus Robertson – Weightlifting

Craig Moar – Endurance Running

Erika Marwick – Athletics

Eve Wood – Swimming

Finlay Scott – Squash

Hope Henderson – Climbing

Madison Russel – Highland Dancing

Maggie Tait – Fencing

Marcus Shearer – Triathlon

 

This year also sees Taylah Paterson receiving a Lifetime membership for her record-breaking achievements throughout 2023 as well as representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games last year.

James Linklater, Managing Director of The Pickaquoy Centre, said: “It’s great to see how the sponsorship programme has developed over the past four years with this year being the highest on record of applications received.

“The athletes are selected based off a combination of criteria such as competition schedule for the year ahead, achievements to date and involvement in their sport within the local community.

“We’re very happy with the calibre of athletes that have applied, both in terms of performance and the number of sports represented. This is an important year for athletes with Island Games returning for the first time post-Covid, and we’re absolutely delighted that we can help them achieve their goals, both in Guernsey and beyond.”

Fraser McNaughton, trustee of The Pickaquoy Centre Trust, said: “This was my first year on the panel for the Picky Sponsorship Programme, and it really was difficult to decide given the quality of applicants. I wish all athletes a great year of training and competing.”