Orkney won their re-arranged BT National League Division Five, Caledonia 'A' fixture against St Andrews University on Saturday afternoon by a score of 39-17.

A determined Orkney score a try at Pickaquoy on Saturday afternoon

The Orkney forwards gave what must be their best performance of the season, allowing the opposition very little chance of good ball to their backs - when the university backs did get the ball, they showed how they could run and scored three tries.

Orkney scored six tries, with three conversions and a penalty kick, which was capped a fine performance from Al Watson who ended the game with a hat-trick.

A house clearance auction took place in Kirkwall on Saturday, the proceeds of which go directly to the Samaritans Orkney charity.

The late John O' Neill of Kirkwall left the contents of his house in his will to raise funds for the local branch.

Branch chairwomen Loraine Littlejohn said:"This is the first time, for our branch, that we have had any bequest of this kind. It is a huge boost to our funds."

The sale raised £1,100, with only three items left unsold out of 138 lots.

The trust is up for the Best Community Initiative Award for developing a business to recycle used cooking oil into bio diesel for local vehicle use.

The 2005 Orkney Sports Awards took place at the Pickaquoy Centre on Friday night.

The winners were:

• Sportsman of the Year: Andrew Hamilton (Karate).
• Sportswoman of the Year: Catherine Symons (Table Tennis).
• Photo of the Year: Rae Slater.
• Team of the Year: Orkney Athletics Island Games Team.
• Coach of the Year: Malcolm Colquhoun (Athletics).
• Veteran Sportsman of the Year: William Sichel (Athletics)
• Veteran Sportswoman of the Year: Toots Cromarty (Horse Riding).
• Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year: David Miller (Athletics).
• Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year: Aly Bain (Athletics).
• Junior Sportsperson: David Miller (Athletics)
• Senior Sportsperson: Helen Cromarty (Athletics)
• Services to Sport: Mike Drever (Junior Inter County).

Over £76,000 worth of grants were approved by Orkney Enterprise in October.

Among the £76,455 approved, was £35,700 towards the upgrading of the Merkister Hotel, Harray and £17,800 to Scotrenewables in Stromness for "building development."

Gordon Rendall from Westray was granted £9,350 to go towards the purchase of a fishing vessel.

Orkney Islands Council's development committee has pledged its support the development of the renewable energy sector.

Members at the meeting on Thursday welcomed suggestions that the council should maintain and develop renewable energy projects in Orkney, although most admitted that care should be taken not to jeopardise other economical aspects in Orkney, such as tourism.

Acting Inspector Bob Mackenzie said that the blaze, which badly destroyed the property, was suspicious, although he could not confirm if it were deliberate.

“There is a difference between suspicious and deliberate,” he added. “All fires are treated as suspicious until a cause is established. Investigations are ongoing in the Tankerness area.”

The vehicle sustained damage to the door and wing mirror.

Kirkwall police can be contacted on 872241.

There were 133 responses to the questionnaires circulated by the council on the development of the pierhead, the West Mainland Mart site and the lorry park area.

Of these, 72 per cent were in favour of some type of regeneration and only six per cent wanted no change to the area.

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Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, met the minister responsible for Met Office services on Thursday, to discuss the future of the Met Office Centre in Aberdeen.

Although the initial plan was to close regional Met Office centres, the minister confirmed that consideration is now being given to keeping the shipping forecast in Aberdeen.

Commenting Mr Carmichael said: "Specialists based in Aberdeen have demonstrated their ability to interpret meteorological data very effectively. They understand the particular weather issues which affect the north of Scotland. The loss of this specialist knowledge would be deeply regrettable.

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has written to NHS Orkney asking if there is anything it can do to reduce the number of winter cold-related deaths in the county.

The Orcadian revealed startling new figures last week that show there has been a four-fold increase in the number of older folk dying as a result of the drop in temperatures.

Mr Wallace states: "The report in The Orcadian includes advice from Age Concern Orkney, which encourages elderly people to keep warm by various means, advice which is clearly sound.

"I wonder whether, in the light of the disturbing increase in last winter's deaths, there is anything which NHS Orkney can add to this service?"

The Northern Constabulary has been praised for its high levels of service in its primary inspection report, published on Thursday.

Andrew Brown, HM chief inspector of constabulary, said: "Northern Constabulary provides a high level of service to its local communities, is achieving some of the best performance results in the UK and is enjoying significant support from partner agencies.

"The inspection team also found a high level of commitment and professionalism among staff of all ranks - from chief constable to his deputy and support staff, and a genuine desire to make the force area a better place to live and work."

Calls have been made to impose a charge on divers in Scapa Flow, in an effort to raise funds for the Stromness hyperbaric chamber - the facility used to treat decompression sickness.

Councillor Ian Johnstone told the OIC transportation committee this week that the facility was short of cash and that the imposition of a small licensing charge could be a fund raiser.

However, Captain Nigel Mills, OIC director of harbours, said this could create more problems than it solved. He added that talk with NHS Orkney had thrown up other funding ideas which were being considered.

After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that Kirkwall's Ayre Hotel has been sold.

After 27 years in the hands of the Dennison family, the hotel has been bought by Lyall and Wendy Harray, who return to Orkney after selling their hotel in Fraserburgh.

Outgoing owners, Roy and Moira Dennison, extended their thanks to all staff and customers, past and present, who have supported the hotel.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has appointed a new project officer to help promote the Orkney Hen Harrier Scheme (OHHS).

As the deadline for entry to the scheme approaches, Jude Hamilton, is encouraging applications to the scheme in the final months.

With less than three months until the deadline of 1st February 2006, SNH is keen to ensure that local landowners don't miss out on the chance to benefit from the scheme. 

For full details of the Orkney Hen Harrier Scheme contact Jude Hamilton at SNH, 54-56 Junction Road, Kirkwall, 01856 875302.  Details are also available on the SNH website www.snh.org.uk

Tourism businesses in Orkney appear far from satisfied with the performance of VisitScotland, in its marketing and website.

A survey carried out by the Orkney Tourism Group (OTG), a body set up to monitor the effectiveness and marketing of Orkney's tourism after the Scottish Executive abolished local tourist boards across Scotland, revealed a satisfaction rating of less than 40 per cent for VisitScotland generally, and less than 28 per cent for their website.

The website rating has particularly concerned members as it came mainly from visitor feedback, which highlighted the difficulty of finding and booking a holiday in Orkney on the site.

Mariners are being warned to be on the lookout for a drifting salmon cage, last spotted of the Holm of Elsness, Sanday.

The coastguard was alerted after the Orkney Seafarms cage was sighted at 3pm on Tuesday, adrift in the Stronsay Firth, north-east of the Orkney Mainland.

An environmental disaster was averted on Tuesday after a laden oil tanker lost power in storm force winds between Orkney and Shetland.

The Norwegian tanker Sten Odin was left drifting early on Tuesday morning after an engine failure. The coastguard tug Anglian Earl was sent to the scene and stood by while the engine was restarted.

The tanker, carrying 770 tonnes of gas oil and 3,030 tonnes of aviation fuel, made her way safely to Shetland.

A decision on the management of the Westray marina has been deferred until May 2006.

Councillors at the meeting of the OIC's transportation committee were considering whether the facility should remain under the control of Orkney Marinas or whether it should be taken under council control.

But it was agreed to look at the matter in May next year, at which time the management of the Kirkwall and Stromness will also be considered.

Tough new security measures could be introduced on Orkney Ferries' vessels, in line with those on NorthLink boats.

Captain Nigel Mills dropped the bombshell at Tuesday's OIC transportation and Infrastructure committee meeting, after giving a report on security measures introduced for cruise liners and at the Hatston terminal. The measures could be introduced as early as 2007.

Councillor James Stockan asked if Orkney internal ferries could be exempt from the legislation, which is put in place by shipping laws, but was told by Captain Mills, that the rules could not be "bent."

A fire and police investigation team arrived in the county on Tuesday afternoon to establish the cause of the fire that destroyed a property in Toab.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in the Old Schoolhouse in Toab at 2.10am this morning. Shortly after, hampered by the strong winds, they requested additional assistance from Stromness.

The fire was eventually extinguished, a police spokesman confirming that there were no injuries.

A man appeared in private at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday, in connection with charges arising from an incident at Mull Head, Deerness at the weekend.

Martin Albert Walls, 47, of Kirkwall, has been charged with two breaches of the peace, four assaults on police officers and one charge of dangerous driving.

He made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear in court next week..

Police have expressed extreme concern after the discovery of a crossbow bolt embedded in a door at the Broch of Gurness in Evie.

Sergeant Jim Pryde said: "Public safety concerns are paramount when using such killer weapons. Information is requested to clarify whether it was accidental, misdirected or a deliberate act."

Police can be contacted on 872241.

Representatives of the Food Standards Agency were in Orkney this week, to advise the fishing industry about new regulations.

There was an open meeting at the Orkney Hotel in Kirkwall on Friday night to discuss issues surrounding the introduction of new EU hygiene regulations, which come into effect on January 1, 2006.

A lobbying campaign by Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, and the OIC, has won important concessions from Scottish Ministers to ensure the interests of islands authorities are safeguarded within the North Community Justice Authority - a body to be set up following last week's passing of the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill.

The lobbying raised concerns felt in Orkney that the Bill would centralise all the work of councils’ criminal justice social work departments - a move which, it was felt, would be against Orkney's interests.

Orkney Islands Council's Director of Development Services, Jeremy Baster, is one of twelve local authority delegates from across the UK to be invited by CLAIR (the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) to participate in a study tour of Japanese local government.

The study tour, known as the Local Government Exchange and Co-operation Seminar, is an annual event hosted by CLAIR, a joint organisation of Japanese local authorities which promotes and supports international contacts.

The programme, which lasts from November 21 to 29, includes seminars and meetings in Tokyo, and an extended visit to the Okayama Prefecture, situated to the west of Tokyo on the Inland Sea.

A 33-year-old man was allegedly set upon by four youths in St Margaret’s Hope at the weekend.

The victim was taken to Kirkwall’s Balfour Hospital and detained for observation.

As a result of the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning, four men – one aged 19, one 18 and two 17-year-olds – have been arrested. A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal.

The Food Standards Agency have issued two orders in connection paralytic shellfish poisoning in king scallops in Scapa Flow.

The first states that following the reduction in levels of PSP toxins taken from waters in the inner part of box O19 - Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, the ban imposed by the original Order, restricting the harvesting of King scallops has been revoked.

The second states that following the detection of high levels of PSP toxins in king scallops taken from waters in the inner part of box O18 - Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, a ban has been placed. This ban restricts the harvesting of King scallops from O18 (Inner).

The ban came into effect on Friday,

Orkney's captain, Glen McLellan leads by example as he scores a try in the first half of the match against Aberdeen Wanderers.

Orkney RFC’s First XV rugby team had a convincing win over Aberdeen Wanderers in their BT Cup match at Pickaquoy on Saturday afternoon.

The team won by 74-0 in a game which they dominated from the start and the result was never in doubt.

The half-time score was 38-0 with tries from Adam Towrie John Dearness, Glen McLellan (2), Andy McGill and Colin Risbrider. In the second half, tries were scored by Lee Thomson, John Dearness (2), Al Watson (2) and Andy McGill.

A new exhibition by local photographer Doug Houghton opened on Saturday in the Orkney Museum, Kirkwall..

The exhibition called Orkney Heritage is a collection of photographs which looks at the similarities between modern and ancient Orkney. It also includes a quiz which asks the visitor to think about the similarities between Stromness and Skara Brae, the winner of which will receive a landscape photograph.

The exhibition runs until November 26. The museum is open from Monday to Saturday, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm, and admission is free.