Community / Theresa elected as 2028 SMUHA jarl
A FEMALE jarl will again lead the South Mainland Up Helly Aa (SMUHA) in the coming years.
Theresa Goodlad will take on the role in 2028 after being elected for the Bigton and Levenwick area this weekend.
It comes after Lesley Simpson broke Shetland tradition in 2015 by becoming a female guizer jarl for the first time, leading SMUHA.
Meanwhile Alice Jamieson is set to become the next female jarl by leading the Cullivoe Up Helly Aa in 2025.
Goodlad said she was a “peerie bit overwhelmed” with the news that she will follow in the south end in 2028 – with her phone busy with messages of congratulations.
“I’ve had some amazing feedback from everybody, it’s been absolutely lovely,” she told Shetland News.
Goodlad has been involved with SMUHA since its inception, racking up 14 years on the committee.
During this time she has held a number of roles, including working on the galley and being with the jarl squad during the day, as well as acting as secretary.
“I’ve been involved with it quite heavily, and the opportunity just came up [to try for guizer jarl],” Goodlad said.
SMUHA is Shetland’s newest fire festival, with its first year being 2010.
The guizer jarl is picked from one of five areas of the South Mainland every year on rotation.
Meanwhile Lerwick Up Helly Aa relaxed its rules last year to allow female guizers into the famous fire festival in January this year.
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