Cant’s can-do attitude is rewarded with Scottish title

ATHLETICS: Sport plays a significant role in all the Orkney Schools and Kirkwall Grammar’s Thora Cant added to her list of successes last weekend by winning the javelin at the Scottish Under-16 Championships at Grangemouth. The 15-year-old threw 33:81m – just shy of her personal best of 33:90.

A winner for Scotland at the Celtic Games in Aberdeen last month, Thora also took part in the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in London in May. She finished seventh and she picks out the Games as the best moment of her career to date. “The Games were held in the Olympic Stadium and it was amazing,” she said. “It was a huge inspiration.”

Thora is a member of Orkney Athletics’ Club and it was three years ago that she the coaches channelled her talents towards the javelin.

“I tried throwing foam javelins and the coaches saw something in me,” she explained. “Now I train five times a week – one or two throwing sessions and the rest are weight and 
fitness sessions.”

Her goal for this season is to make the Orkney team for 
the NatWest Island Games in Bermuda in July next year.

“As long as I stay fit then it’s pretty definite that I will make the team,” she said the fourth-year pupil, who is coached by Calvin Cooper at the Orkney Club. Before then, Thora’s calendar will be packed with competition and many hours of travelling.

One of four sporty children, Thora’s parents Andy and Alice are the financial backers and the chaperones to the long and expensive trips to the mainland. “It’s a big commitment in terms of time and money and 
I do most of the travelling with Thora, but I also really enjoy it,” said Alice.