Some of the exhibits at Sunday's Vintage Rally.

Orkney Vintage Club's rally, which was held at Orkney Auction Mart, Kirkwall, on Sunday, highlighted renewable energy and energy efficiency as part of its outdoor display.

The indoor display included an exhibition of radios gramophones, record players, recorder, communication equipment and musical instruments.

In what the club describe as Orkney's third largest outdoor annual event, The Talking Newspaper also demonstrates how it converts the written word from The Orcadian into the spoken word for the blind and partially sighted.

Sandwick celebrate their Parish Cup victory

Sandwick won the Parish Cup final in the match against Westray at Pickaquoy on Saturday night.

The final, which was a very closely contested event, saw Westray open the scoring through a goal by Nicky Watson, which was countered by a goal by Sandwick's Marcus Wood just after half time.

Late in the second half, sustained pressure resulted in a second goal for Sandwick, by Erlend Grieve, and although Westray continued to work hard the final result was 2-1 to Sandwick.

Skaill Victor, the winner of the cattle section of the County Show

Messrs Davidson, Skaill Farm, Sandwick, have once again picked up the top prize in the cattle section of Saturday's Orkney County Show.

The winning animal - sixteen-month-old Skail Victor - was brought back as an embryo from France. Its sire was Offenbach and the dam was Rosette.

The cattle championship reserve prize went to T. and J. Leslie, Quoymorhouse, Shapinsay, with a Limousin x Belgian Blue heifer calf, Red Alert, which was born in November last year, out of a Belgian Blue cow, sired by Lethendry Stevie.

The cattle rings at Saturday's Orkney County show

Despite a poor forecast, the weather was kind to the annual County Show in Orkney, with dry, and sometimes sunny, weather pervailing.

Entries for the show are well up on last year, with the increase almost entirely in the poultry section.

The judging underway at Saturday's County Show.

Marnie Mowatt, secretary of the Orkney Agricultural Society, said total entries for this year’s show were up from 1,130, last year to 1,194, this year, mainly because of the jump in poultry entries.

The entertainment highlight of the show, was held in the Bignold Park, Kirkwall, was the Scottish Lumberjacks, a demonstration team of four, showing off their skills with axes and chainsaws.

BBC2’s successful Coast programme, taking a look at the developing and ever-changing UK coastline, featured Orkney on Sunday.

Life on the Edge, featured descendants of the people displaced by the Highland clearances and the survivors of the worst loss of British naval life, in Scapa Flow.

The annual Riding of the Marches took place on Sunday.

Dating back centuries, the event fell dormant for many years, until if was revived in 1986 as part of the celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of the granting or Kirkwall's Royal Charter by King James III in 1486.

It’s was business as usual at Kirkwall Airport on Friday - despite an unofficial strike action by British Airways ground staff.

A spokesman from Loganair said: “We can confirm that all services operated by British Airways franchise partner, Loganair, are running as normal, and we would urge passengers to check-in for their flights as scheduled.”

BA cancelled all flights in and out of Heathrow because of the unofficial strike action by hundreds of BA staff in support of 600 sacked catering workers - a dispute which began on Wednesday when the company that caters for BA flights, Gate Gourmet, sacked 600 of its staff following an unofficial strike over restructuring plans.

A 12-year-old cyclist was taken to Kirkwall’s Balfour Hospital with a head injury after colliding with a car in Thoms Street, Kirkwall, on Thursday night.

It is understood the boy was only detained overnight, before being discharged.

But Kirkwall police acting Inspector Bob Mackenzie, warned of the dangers of not wearing a cycle helmet.

“He was not wearing a helmet. He was very lucky. We would ask that cyclists do wear protection and are aware of other cars and vehicles.”

Two Orkney communities have entered the Calor Scottish Community of the Year awards 2005.

While the Marengo Centre in St Margaret’s Hope are vying for the “older people and community life” title, Orkney Communities website have submitted an entry to the “community enhancement through the internet” award.

Open to any properly constituted community group in Scotland, and carrying a total prize fund of more than £5,000, the awards aim to recognise and reward efforts made by communities in improving their local area.

Kirkwall police are appealing for information after a stand was vandalised at the Dounby Showpark on Wednesday night.

A large sign was stolen from the Rovers football club pitch, within the park in Dounby, the night before the show.

Damage was also done to the stand itself. Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 872241.

The president of the Orkney West Mainland Agricultural Society, Sheena Coghill, was celebrating on Thursday after scooping the cattle championship title with a two-year-old Limousin cross home-bred heifer at the Dounby Show.

Terry and Sheena, of Muce, Birsay, had won previously with the beast as a calf at both the Dounby and the County Shows.

The animal, which was sired by a Limousin bull, Hekra Norseman, and out of a Belgian Blue cross cow, won the black cross section, and swept the board to take the championship honours today.

No-one was seriously injured when a bull broke free and went on the rampage at Dounby Show on Thursday morning.

The beast, belonging to Garson Farm in Sandwick, knocked down owner, Stewart Wood, and leapt a dyke, taking part of it with him.

After about 20 minutes, the bull was finally cornered at the back of a car park in the village by a large group of folk.

It is not thought that Mr Wood or the bull was seriously injured.

Kirkwall’s Junction Road has been affected by a burst water pipe – the fifth time since March.

Scottish Water engineers were called out at midnight on Wednesday night, following another leak near the Kirkwall Post Office.

Scottish Water spokesman, Jason Rose, said: “We always prioritise our work and given the number of bursts in Junction Road recently, it is a section that we will look at including in our future investment plans.”

Home-Start Orkney has received a £27,000 windfall, securing the future of the charity for the next three years.

The grant, from Lloyds TSB Scotland, will enable Home-Start to continue offering support, friendship and practical help to families experiencing difficult times.

The service recruits and trains volunteers to visit families who have at least one child under five, and offer them informal, friendly and confidential support.

.A cross-bred steer, owned by Andrew Laird, Burray, took the honours in the overall yard championship at Wednesday’s agricultural show in the ‘Hope.

The steer was champion calf at the Orkney Livestock Association sale earlier this year and came from the farm, Brockan in Sandwick. The champion was sired by a Charolais bull, Simpson’s Gregory, and out of a Charolais Angus cross cow.

The steer beat Ivy Cromarty’s Clydesdale, Hrossland Just Meg, into second place overall.

The number of tourists visiting Orkney has increased dramatically during the past five years, according to the results of a survey, released on Wednesday.

The VisitOrkney survey showed 127,000 folk flocked to the county in 2004/5, compared to 92,000 in 2000, the last time a similar exercise was carried out.

Findings also showed that visitors in 2004/5 pumped in £26 million to the local economy and more than half were likely to return to the county. More than two out of three visitors rated local hospitality as very good.

An 18-year-old man has been fined £300 after setting off a fire alarm at Kirkwall Grammar School -while pupils were sitting an exam.

Kevin James Grant, of Glaitness Park, Kirkwall, who left the school two years ago, told Sheriff Graeme Napier the idea had come him the previous night, while drinking.

Procurator fiscal, Ms Sue Foard, told the court a janitor had spotted Grant running off after the alarm was set off. The court was told Grant had been ‘horrified’ when told there had been an exam going on at the time.

Fining him, Sheriff Napier described Grant’s action as ‘childish.’

Scotland’s Health Minister, Andy Kerr, has announced the reappointment of Jenny Dewar as chairwoman of Orkney’s health board.

Mr Kerr - who was in Orkney last week in the wake of a double resignation from the health board - said: “Ms Dewar has made extremely valuable contributions to the NHS in Scotland. I look forward to continuing to work together with her in the vital task of improving the health of the people of Scotland.”

Ms Dewar will be employed for about three days per week, with an annual salary of £25,030.

The bond between Orkney and Manitoba, in Canada, will be renewed this month, after an official invitation from Manitoba's Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism to renew the Treaty of Friendship.

Orkney Islands Council Convener, Stephen Hagan, and Chief Executive, Alistair Buchan, will take part in the renewal of the Treaty of Friendship with Manitoba on August 17.

The Council's representatives have also received an official invitation to the Red River Descendants Reunion at Lower Fort Garry, which was built by Orcadian masons and will be celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding during the week-long celebrations.

Kirkwall police are warning businesses to be on the lookout for forged banknotes -after a £20 fake was used at Fusion nightclub.

The Royal Bank of Scotland counterfeit note was used at the bar in the club, sometime on Saturday night. It had no water mark or metallic strip.

Kirkwall Sergeant Eddie Graham said: “We would warn members of the public and shop proprietors to be vigilant.”

Longhope lifeboat and the Orkney passenger ferry, Pentalina B, went to the aid of a tour guide boat drifting in the Pentland Firth on Monday afternoon.

A rescue operation was launched by Aberdeen Coastguard after the North Coast Explorer, a 35ft rigid inflatable, with two crew and 12 passengers on board, raised the alarm to say the engine had failed.

An Aberdeen Coastguard spokesman said: “The Longhope lifeboat took the passengers and crew off and towed the vessel to John O’Groat’s harbour, where it is based.”

Jim Wallace, Orkney MSP, has urged the Scottish Executive to make representations to the UK Government opposing the proposal to close the Aberdeen Met Office.

In a letter to Ross Finnie, Scottish rural affairs minister, Mr Wallace highlighted the importance of good local forecasts to fishermen and farmers across Scotland.

Mr Wallace wrote: “Both industries are affected by weather and good forecasts, produced by those with the experience of the very variable weather in Scotland, and are of great economic importance to them, and that widespread opposition in Scotland to the proposals to close the Aberdeen Met Office should be backed by the Executive."

There was a surprise in store for the manager of Orkney's Northern and Western Isles Energy Efficiency Advice Centre at a conference in Durham, when he was presented with a prestigious award.

Ken Ross, manager of the centre in Bridge Street in Kirkwall, was given the Gerry Murphy award for outstanding achievement and commitment in the field of energy efficiency.

After receiving the award, Ken said: "It's was a great honour and an even greater surprise to be given the award. I do feel, however, that the award is for the centre as a whole as it is the key to the way forward for energy efficiency."

Kirkwall police are asking boat owners to be on the lookout for a stolen propeller.

Some time in the past two weeks, a black, alloy propeller off a 15ft speedboat, stored on a trailer at J. & W. Tait’s yard, Hatston, was taken.

Anyone offered the item for sale, or who knows anything about its whereabouts, is asked to call the police on 872241.

The affected water coming from Boardhouse Loch appears to be improving, according to Scottish Water.

The carbon filter installed at the end of last week has led to a “definite improvement” in taste and odour from the water leaving the works, a water authority spokesman said today.

“As the water has to go through many miles of pipes it could take a few days to reach everyone. Thank you to all affected for bearing with us.”

The Orkney Youth Development Group’s (OYDG) second football festival, which took place at the Pickaquoy Centre from Thursday to Sunday, has been hailed as a major success by organisers and visitors alike.

Orkney’s under-12s were the county’s only trophy winners, when they beat Caithness United 2-0 to take the OYDG Plate.

Orkney’s under-16s were narrowly edged out against Caithness United, who took the OYDG Quaich 5-4 after extra-time.

Mintlaw Academy were too strong in the girls under-16 tournament, convincingly taking the title. Shetland won the under-14 competition, with Team Orkney finishing fourth, Pomona in fifth and North Isles in sixth.

For full results click here

A man, who was celebrating his 21st birthday at the weekend, ended up being arrested by police for an alleged breach of the peace.

Kirkwall Sergeant Eddie Graham said the male was apprehended within Kiln Corner flats in the early hours of Sunday.

“As a consequence of a party in the area, he was arrested, charged and released.”

A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Jill Spence on Gemini, the champion of the East Mainland Show

Champion of the yard at Saturday's East Mainland Show was an eight-year-old mare, Gemini, shown by Jill Spence, St Ola.

In the cattle section, the honours went to a 14-month-old Charolais heifer shown by Ronnie Baillie, Biggings, Toab.

Organisers were delighted with today's event, in which attendances were up.

Kirkwall Grammar School pupils could be receiving their exam results by text message today - a day before the Scottish Qualifications Agency (SQA) release them on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, interested pupils had the chance to opt-in to the pilot scheme, which will see their results texted directly to their mobile phones.

Prior to despatching the results, the SQA will ask pupils to confirm they want to receive them by phone. Only then will the results be forwarded.