Caithness surfer receives financial assistance to progress in sport
A Caithness surfer is among talented athletes from across the Highlands being supported through the latest round of the Highland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS), delivered between sportscotland and High Life Highland.
Craig McLachlan is among 12 athletes featured in the second round of funding for 2024. 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.
Craig won the Scottish National Surfing Championships men’s title for a second successive year and for the third time in all earlier this year.
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The national scheme – which was set up in 2020 – is funded by sportscotland and administered by High Life Highland. It is designed to help performance level athletes living within the Highland area who face considerable travel costs for training and competitions, often outwith the region.
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.”
High Life Highland’s Head of Sports Development Darren Reid said: “At High Life Highland we continue to support our talented athletes to ensure they are given the best opportunity to compete in their chosen sport at the highest level. They are all doing the region proud, putting the Highlands on the map, and we wish them every success.
“The travel award scheme plays a big part in allowing us to provide some level of help and we are grateful to sportscotland for this support.”
ATAS supports travel costs to help talented athletes from the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and Highland to gain better access to competitive and developmental opportunities.
