2017 Gotland

The 2017 NatWest Island Games took place in Gotland, Sweden, from 24–30 June, bringing together island communities for a week of international competition. For Orkney, the Games produced seven medals overall: two gold and five bronze, placing the island among the smaller medal-winning delegations. The outstanding story was Anna Tait’s remarkable double gold in the women’s 1500m and 5000m, where she set Island Games records in both events. Across the wider programme, Orkney competed in nine sports: archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, football, golf, shooting, swimming and triathlon.

Sporting highlights

Athletics — Anna Tait’s historic double gold

Anna Tait was the standout performer, winning the women’s 1500m in 4:24.15 and the 5000m in 16:45.06. Both performances set Island Games records, making her double victory one of the defining moments of Orkney’s campaign. Taylah Spence also won bronze in the women’s 100m in 12.68 seconds, adding another sprint medal to the team’s tally.

Shooting — three bronze medals

Orkney achieved three bronze medals in shooting. Robert Spence secured an individual bronze in the men’s 50m three-position smallbore rifle, while Orkney’s teams won bronze in both the men’s 50m prone smallbore rifle and the men’s 100-yard prone rifle. These results highlighted the value of precision, consistency and teamwork in the island’s shooting contingent.

Triathlon — Bobby Oag’s bronze

Bobby Oag won bronze in the men’s individual triathlon, providing Orkney with its seventh medal of the Games. His result was an important achievement in a demanding event that combines swimming, cycling and running, and it demonstrated Orkney’s ability to compete successfully beyond athletics and shooting.

Beyond the medal table

Orkney competed in nine sports: archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, football, golf, shooting, swimming and triathlon. Although athletics and shooting accounted for six of the seven medals, the delegation’s participation extended well beyond these disciplines. In football, Orkney recorded a 3–0 victory over Alderney in the group stage, although defeats to Menorca and Jersey meant the team did not progress further. In golf, Orkney finished ninth in the men’s team event, with Hamish Gorn placing 12th and Michael Schinkel 23rd in the individual competition. The women’s 4 × 100m relay team also finished fourth in 50.20 seconds, narrowly missing the podium.