Caithness Courier headlines for July 30, 2014

WICK harbour is to become the service base for Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd in a move which could create hundreds of local jobs. That emerged late yesterday afternoon SSE confirmed the Caithness port is likely to become the operation and maintenance base for the development.

PRINCE Charles will visit state-of-the-art equestrian centre at Halkirk and an art exhibition in Thurso this week. During his annual trip to the Castle of Mey, he will find out more about the North Highland College UHI land-based centre for Gamekeeping and Veterinary Nursing at Dale Farm, tomorrow, before moving on to the Society of Caithness Artists’ exhibition at Thurso High School, at which he has previously exhibited. His visit to the area will also take in his annual appearance at the Mey Games which are being staged on Saturday.

A TRIO of Caithness athletes did their county – as well as their country – proud when they took on the best in the Commonwealth at the Glasgow 2014 games. Sarah Henderson, Evan Oliphant and John Paul were part of the Scotland team which enjoyed a standing ovation at the opening ceremony at Celtic Park a week ago and they will receive a heroes’ welcome on their return home.

A LOCAL egg producer is delighted to have been able to supply 1,500 eggs to a recent, cruising visitor to the county. Caithness Free Range Eggs got a call last Thursday morning from Scrabster Harbour Trust asking if it had the eggs which the cruise ship, the Sea Cloud 11 wanted after breaking its journey from Dundee to Lerwick. The firm, based at Lochquoy Farm, Castletown, and owned and run by Mike and Liz Armitage in partnership with their son Pete, was only too happy to help.

A RECORD crowd turned up for the Halkirk Highland Games on Saturday and they were not disappointed by what they saw. Three ground records were broken in the track and field events. There were presentations to two stalwarts of the games and an appearance by Esmor Davies, from Wales, before setting off on a marathon JCB run from John O’ Groats to Land’s End.

THURSO Acks have blown the title race wide open after a shock 3-1 win against Wick Groats at Upper Bignold. Pentland United took advantage to move level on points at the top, coming back from two goals down to steal a nervy win over Castletown.