This summer, Orkney will welcome over 2,000 competitors and officials as it hosts the 20th International Island Games. With just over three months until the opening ceremony, we caught up with some of our island-based athletes who have been training hard in preparation for this special event.
For Katie Clubb, Taylah Paterson, and Muriel Macleod, the Orkney Games mean a great deal, and they are all hoping to perform well for their respective islands in the athletics event.
Team Shetland: Katie Clubb
“It’s crazy how fast it has come around.”
Last time we spoke to Shetland-based distance runner Katie Clubb, her training was on hold due to a pelvic floor injury that she developed after childbirth. One year on, Katie is doing better than ever and is on track to compete in the Island Games, 10 years after her last games in Jersey, where she won silver in the 5,000m.
“I took the build back from injury very steady,” she shared.
“I was religious in my rehab and coming back, I’ve just been so wary of how much time the injury took away from me, so I’m determined not to end up back there.”
Katie returned to racing last July and had just 3 months to gain 2 Island Games standards for each of her distances.
“July to September did feel a bit manic trying to get those races and times in.
“It’s a challenge in Shetland because there wasn’t enough official racing opportunities in that time frame, so I had to travel south for a few.”
Katie was notified of her selection for the 5,000m and 10,000m events back in October last year.
“There is so much amazing talent in Shetland now that it was never a given, so it was such a relief,” she expressed.
With a strong team of female distance runners heading down to Orkney in July, Katie has been grateful for the company during training.
“Although none of us have the same coach, we’ve got a wee group chat, and we’ll put training sessions in there and link up,” she explained.
“I’m so used to training on my own, so it’s been a really nice change over the last wee while.”
With less than 3 months to go, Katie is training hard with 3-year-old son, Arthur, as her cheerleader.
“Balancing being a mum with the training I’m doing definitely feels crazy at times.
Katie’s husband and Arthur’s dad, Jack, will also be representing Team Shetland at this year's games – in the men’s football squad.
“It definitely is one big juggling act, and we simply wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for the family support around us,” Katie shared.
“I’m really proud that Arthur has two active parents to look up to, and I think it makes it feel all the more worth it when things are going well, and I’m getting the results I want.”
In July, Katie will stand on the start line, 10 years since her last games, this time as a mum.
“It all feels very special,” she said.
“I think my hope for the games is really just to get out and show that I can race - and that I can still be up there with the best.”
Team Orkney: Taylah Paterson
The last few years have been a whirlwind for Orkney-based sprinter Taylah Paterson, who achieved her dream of representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and, a year later, welcomed her daughter Lara into the world.
With Orkney’s athletics squad selection just a few weeks away, Taylah is hoping to make a return to the 100m, 200m and relay events and, with 3 Island Games appearances and 3 medals to her name, will be looking to add to her impressive collection at this year’s games.
When we caught up with Taylah last April, she had just recently competed for the first time since having her daughter and was beginning to see her pre-pregnancy speed return.
“It was great to get back competing last summer, and I was actually getting my speed back a lot quicker than I thought,” she shared.
“I was looking to be back at my best by the end of my summer season and ended up missing a lot of competitive opportunities to being ill.
“That is just the reality of having a toddler I’ve come to realise – they take everything home!”
Heading into winter, Taylah was determined to get a good block of training under her belt ahead of the indoor season.
In December, Taylah opened her indoor season with a bang, equaling her 60m PB and Orkney record from 2022.
“That was a huge confidence boost,” she shared.
“To know that I was back just as fast as I was before having Lara was incredible, and I felt like I had a lot more to give as well.
Unfortunately, a mix of winter illnesses and bad weather stood in the way of further competition in the new year, and her season ended early when she picked up a suspected hip tear in January.
“Yeah, so my year hasn’t got off to a great start,” she laughed.
“I’m pleased with how recovery is going, though, and I’m confident that I’ll be back competing by the end of April.”
Since we last spoke, Taylah has also returned to her midwifery job.
“It’s just another thing to juggle that I always knew I’d have to do.
“I simply wouldn’t be able to do it all without the support of my husband Jack and the amazing family we have around us,” she shared.
As Lara’s 2nd birthday approaches, Taylah shares the joy she gets from her daughter starting to understand the sport more and being able to join her for a run around on the track.
“As much as it can be challenging at times, watching her enjoy my sport makes it all worth it.”
With a few weeks to go until she returns to competition, Taylah is trying not to put too much pressure on the games and is focussed on making a full recovery.
“While working through this injury, I have had to put the Island Games to one side and fully focus on my recovery.
“The home games mean a huge deal to me, so it really hasn’t been easy, but I know how important it is to look after my body and not put myself at risk of further injury."
If all goes to plan, Taylah hopes to return to the start line of the 100m & 200m as well as the relay events.
“It would be such a dream to do well at home.”
“I’ve got an Island Games bronze and 2 silvers, so it would obviously would be amazing to upgrade to gold."
As well as her main 100m and 200m events, Taylah has enjoyed being part of both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams in previous games, picking up a silver medal in the 4x400m back in 2019.
“We always have such a good bunch of girls in the sprints, and I think we’ll be pushing for medals again this year.
“Our sport can be quite lonely at times, so it’s always a really nice opportunity to come together as a team.”
Team Western Isles: Muriel Macleod
Last year, we were blown away by Muriel Macleod’s story and the progress she has been able to make in a short space of time. First lacing up her running shoes during lockdown aged 45, Muriel is now looking ahead to both the Island Games and her 50th birthday this year.
“I remember thinking after the last games that I’d be 50 by the next games, and that felt like ages away, but here we are!”
Muriel has been busy since we last spoke, competing for Scotland in cross country and gaining some British Masters silverware.
“Because it’s my 50th birthday this year, I’ve been doing a few weird and wonderful things that I maybe wouldn’t usually do,” she shared.
Muriel started her 2025 with the fast and furious Armagh International 3k, finishing 1st in the F45 category.
“I tend to stay away from the shorter distances, but that was seriously fun and definitely the most exciting race I’ve ever done,” she expressed.
With the Inverness and Alloa half marathons already under her belt for this year, Muriel is now looking ahead to the London Marathon, for which she has gained a Championship entry time.
“I did have a bit of an internal conflict on London because it is relatively close to the games,” she told us.
“But I just thought, what if I never get this opportunity again – and to do it on my 50th birthday year will be extra special.”
Last year, Muriel started working with Cambuslang-based coach Ian Crawford.
“Ian has been amazing and very patient with me and all my whims this year.
“As we head towards the games, we’ve been working a lot on my speed, which has been really interesting.
“It’s been great to mix my training up a bit and really rewarding to see the results when I get out racing.”
With the games taking place closer to home this time around, Muriel is grateful to have already had the opportunity to complete the half marathon course at last October’s test event.
“Having that experience and knowledge of the course is great and definitely takes away some of the worries and anxieties you naturally have before a race.
“I’m now just really excited to get out there and see what I can do.
With her second Island Games just around the corner, Muriel is looking forward to putting all the experience she has gained over the last couple of years to the test in the 10,000m and half marathon.
“Last time, I was still so new to the sport and was hesitant to even put my name forward. I’m excited to return with everything I’ve learnt since then.
“I would love to team medal again and obviously an individual medal in the half would be beyond a dream.
“It’s such an amazing thing to be part of, so I really just want to soak that up and enjoy the experience. With it being in Orkney, it’s going to be extra special, and I’m really looking forward to seeing all the talent.
“Between all the island groups, Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles, we have some real cracking female runners. The women in this sport are so strong, and that in itself is a really exciting thing to be a part of."
More info
- Muriel, Katie, & Taylah have all received support from the Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS) which supports travel costs for Highland and island competitors to help talented athletes from the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and Highland to gain better access to competitive and developmental opportunities available on the mainland.
- Scottish Athletics
- Read: Muriel Macleod
- Read: Katie Clubb
- Watch: Taylah Paterson
