Sport / Sporting round-up 3 November
SWIMMING clubs Shetland ACSC and Delting Dolphins jointly took a team of four swimmers to the recent North District Open Championships in Aberdeen.
The swimmers returned home with two Shetland open records, one North District junior champion title, several new Shetland age group records and lots of personal best times.
Julian Okroj, 14, had a great meet and set new best times in every event. He was North District junior champion in the 200m backstroke, breaking the Shetland open record in the process.
Okroj also broke a long-standing Shetland age 13/14 record, going under 54 seconds in the 100m freestyle.
And he set 13/14 Shetland age group records in all six of the events he competed in.
Lockie Bullough, 15, finished first in the junior final of the 50m backstroke, setting a new Shetland open record and an age 15/16 Shetland record.
He also reached finals in the 50m and 100m butterfly, as well as the 100m backstroke, finishing third in each of those finals.
Ross Drakeford swam strongly in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke, taking over four seconds off his 200m time and three seconds off his 100m.
Katie Bain travelled up from Glasgow to join the team and delivered solid performances, swimming well across all three of her events.
Both clubs would like to thank NorthLink Ferries for their continued support.
THE SHETLAND women’s hockey team started the defence of their Scottish District Cup title with a hard-fought win over Edinburgh University 6’s.
The reigning champions were made to battle for their place in the next round of the cup on Sunday, but a brace from Cara Leask and goals from Kayleigh Irvine and Rhiannon Inkster-Smith ensured a 4-2 win for Shetland.
The blues have won two of the last three Scottish District Cup crowns, with only a defeat in the 2024 final preventing a three-year clean sweep in the competition.
It was an altogether easier afternoon for the men’s hockey team on Saturday, with a depleted Edinburgh University 5’s team providing little resistance.
Shetland won the Scottish Reserve Cup fixture 17-0 – with both Jake Davies and Jack Rathbone racking up four goals each – to ensure they easily progress to the next round.
SHETLAND Valkyries made it back-to-back home victories with a great result against Lochaber RFC on Saturday afternoon.
With the two sides meeting for the first time, it was Shetland who made their mark with a 41-7 victory at the Gilbertson Park.
The victory sees Shetland close ground on Lochaber, who are currently sitting second in the table.
Next up for the Valkyries is another home tie, against Caithness Krakens this Saturday.
FOOTBALLER Spencer Moreland scored for Brechin City on Saturday afternoon, but their game with Nairn County was abandoned after a medical emergency in the crowd.
Moreland had equalised for Brechin in the match, with Nairn going in at half-time 2-1 ahead.
However the game was called off at the break due to the medical incident.
The Nairn County supporter later died, with Brechin saying their “thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the supporter’s family, friends and everyone connected with Nairn County at this very difficult time”.
In women’s football, Lisa Goudie and Tahlia Leslie exited the Scottish Women’s Cup after a 12-goal thriller against Renfrew Ladies.
Westdyke Ladies, who signed both Goudie and Leslie this summer, were 5-0 down to their opponents at the halfway stage of the game in a one-sided contest.
But Westdyke fought back impressively in the second period, eventually going down 8-4.
THERE were mixed fortunes on the volleyball court for Shetland’s men and women on Saturday, as they welcomed opponents from Aberdeen and Edinburgh to the isles.
The men recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over Edinburgh Jets 2’s at the Aith leisure centre, winning 25-20, 25-18, 25-18 across three sets.
However they then slipped to a 3-1 defeat against Volleyball Aberdeen Vortex, losing the first two sets 25-16, 25-23.
They rallied to win the third set 25-22, but Aberdeen saw out set four 25-20 to secure victory.
There was just one game on Saturday for the women’s team, who are taking part in the national league for the first time this season.
They lost 3-0 to Edinburgh Jets 3, with the set scores 25-10, 25-11, 25-8.
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