Which Ross athletes have been selected to receive funding to help their sporting careers?

TWELVE athletes from across the Highlands have been selected to receive funding as part of the Highland Athlete Travel Award Scheme.

The national scheme – which was set up in 2020 – is designed to help performance level athletes living within the Highland area who face considerable travel costs for training and competitions, often out with the region.

As well as financial assistance to help with travel expenses, athletes get access to highlife facilities across the region to support them to progress in their sport.

Among the 12 who have been called up to the squad include three athletes from Ross-shire.

They include mountain runner Ross Gollan from Edderton who is travelling across Europe to compete in the Mountain Running World Cup Circuit.

Also selected is Ross County Athletics Club athlete Andrew Baird from Fortrose. He recently claimed victory in the 1500 metres steeplechase in the UK School Championship.

Fellow Ross County Athletics Club athlete Lachlan Thomas from Invergordon has also been selected. He won a bronze medal when he competed for Scotland at the Junior Home Country International in Ireland earlier this year.

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “Congratulations to all the athletes who have been selected for this latest round of ATAS funding.

“At sportscotland we recognise the difficulties faced by athletes in rural communities in accessing the best possible training and competition. ATAS is a key programme in helping to support athletes with those specific challenges. We look forward to working with High Life Highland to support more athletes.”

Athletes who have received funding.

Andrew Baird - Athletics - Fortrose

Craig McLachlan - Surfing - Caithness

Emily Rothney - Snowboarding - Badenoch and Strathspey,

Grace Alexander - Basketball - Inverness,

Heather Gordon - Rowing -Inverness

Lachlan Thomas - Athletics - Invergordon.

Lucy Daly - Judo - Inverness

Murray Taylor - Athletics -Inverness

Olivia Poole - Cycling - Inverness,

Ross Gollan - Athletics - Edderton

Summer Elliott - Golf - Inverness

Zack Paton - Squash - Nairn

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