A horse has been named champion of the yard at this year's Sanday show.

Charlie, a Gypsy Cob, is owned by Jackie Sinclair, Backaskaill, Sanday.

Reserve went to a cross-coloured cow owned by J. & M. Lennie, Seaview , Sanday.

NHS Orkney’s chief executive, Steve Conway, looks set to be spending less time in the county after being drafted in to work for NHS 24.

NHS Orkney chairwoman Jenny Dewar confirmed that Mr Conway will be working for NHS 24 for two weeks in August and then two days a week for up to three months, depending on the work required.

She said: “By rationalising his other national commitments and undertaking to travel in his own time, I am confident that Steve will be able to take on this new role while continuing to fulfil his responsibilities and commitments as Chief Executive of NHS Orkney.“

Orkney played host to fencing enthusiasts at the weekend, with competitors from around the north of Scotland in the county.

A coaching session, provided by professors of the sport, Alasdair Urquhart and Andy Alderman, will be followed by a competition.

The event, in the Pickaquoy Centre, runs until Monday.

After a week long trial at Kirkwall Sheriff Court, a South Ronaldsay man has been found guilty of stealing cattle from his brother.

John Taylor, 62, of Bellevue Hotel, St Margaret's Hope, was found guilty of stealing seven cows from David Taylor's farm at Kirkhouse, South Ronaldsay in October 2004.

He was also found guilty of leaving two dead sheep unburied on his land on April 12, 2005.

Sentencing has been deferred.

A third webcam on the VisitOrkney website went live on Friday morning.

Two webcams already allow visitors to www.visitorkney.com to watch over Kirkwall's St Magnus Kirk Green and across Stromness' rooftops towards the harbour.

Now, an additional webcam will enable visitors to view Pierowall in Westray.

The views from all three webcams can be seen at www.visitorkney.com/webcams.asp.

Orkney's 2006 agricultural show season kicked off on Friday with the Sanday Show.

It was followed by the 108th East Mainland Show in St Andrews on Saturday and the Shapinsay and 'Hope shows will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Thursday will see the Dounby Show with the season brought to an end next Saturday with the County Show.

Kirkwall police are warning householders to be aware of door-to-door traders presently operating in the county.

A number of complaints have been received about groups of Eastern European men and women selling items such as drawing and paintings, adopting what has been described as "hard-sell" tactics.

There have also been cases where the traders, who claim to be trying to raise funds to support their further education, have begged money from householders.

Police are urging accommodation providers in the county to keep an eye out for a missing Inverness pensioner.

Irene Lawrie, 74,  was seen visiting a hostel in St Andrews on July 24, ten days after being reported missing.

Inverness police are very concerned for Irene’s wellbeing and are appealing to owners of hostels, B&Bs and hotels to contact them (01463 715555) or their local police station (872241) with any positive sightings.

Irene is described as white, 5ft 4”, of medium build, shoulder length grey hair, wearing spectacles and speaks with a German accent.

Jean Leonard, stalwart of the local music scene, has resigned from the Orkney Traditional Music Project (OTMP) committee over plans to start charging for lessons.

To comply with rules belonging to new funding bodies, it looks likely that a small charge for lesson will have to be introduced, and it is with this that Mrs Leonard disagrees.

However, Mrs Leonard has said she will remain with the project as a tutor if "agreeable terms" are reached.

Angus Findlater (Picture: Orkney Library Photographic Archives)

One of Orkney’s best known faces – and voices – Angus Findlater, has died, aged 78.

Mr Findlater, of White Street, Kirkwall, was probably best-known for his collaboration with Allie Windwick, which led to the recording of “Lonely Scapa Flow” in 1965.

As well as working for the Kirkwall Town Council, he was a regular on BBC Radio Orkney - initially on the "Oot and Aboot" programme, with Ken Ross, before becoming a host on their Friday night request programme and the monthly "Unchained Melody" slot.

Mr Arne Gunnarsjaa opening Wednesday's St Magnus Fair

The annual St Magnus Fair took place on Wednesday afternoon, in the shadow of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

The annual fair, to raise money for the upkeep of the twelfth century cathedral, was opened this year by Mr Arne Gunnarsjaa, the cathedral architect of Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway.

Despite a dull, overcast afternoon, a good crowd attended the event.

A 31-year-old man appeared in private at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday, in connection with an alleged knife offence last weekend.

Ian Graham of Grimond Place, Finstown, is charged with possessing a knife in Kirkwall on July 23.

He was released on bail today, with curfew conditions and a requirement to attend the police station daily.

Culture enthusiasts are set to benefit from extra flights to and from North Ronaldsay.

Loganair has added the extra flights on Sunday, August 20, to meet with demand of people visiting the island due to the lighthouse open day and the BBC Restoration programme.

Arranged in conjunction with the OIC, an extra 12 noon and a 5pm service has been added to the normal 10am and 4pm flights. 

These flights can only be booked by calling 01856 872 494 or emailing orkneyres@loganair.co.uk. 

Children from two Orkney schools look set to get the book bug this year, with £2,000 in home reading grants awarded by the Scottish Executive.

Firth Primary School and Pierowall Junior High will receive Read Together Home Reading grants for projects encouraging young people to read at home.

Every household in Orkney is to receive a delivery from Royal  Mail  containing  information on the new postal pricing system that will come into effect on August 21.

All 26,541 addresses in the KW postcode area are being targeted as part of a nationwide door drop to explain how the cost of sending mail will soon take into account the size, thickness and weight of items and how to prepare for the changes. Previously mail has only been priced by weight.

Customers can also find more information about the changes at www.royalmail.com/size.

Two senior Scottish Liberal Democrat Ministers are to visit Orkney in the next fortnight.

Environment and Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie MSP will be visiting Orkney on August 11-13. He plans to visit Orkney Herring, Orkney Fisherman’s Association and the County Show.

Party leader and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Nicol Stephen MSP, is due to be in the county on August 14-15.  He plans to visit the European Marine Energy Centre, International Centre for Island Technology and Orkney College and meet with Orkney Renewable Energy Forum, OIC members and officials and local business leaders.

Several organisations throughout Orkney are to benefit from grants totalling £40,455 from the Lottery Grants for Local Groups scheme.

Taking the biggest slice of the cake is the Kirkwall Bowling Club, who will use £10,000 to erect a storage shed to accommodate maintenance equipment.

Among the others benefiting is the Westray Heritage Trust, given £4,921, and the Congregational Board of the Rousay Church of Scotland, who have been awarded £4,812.

Kirkwall police are seeking witnesses to a vandalism in Kirkwall’s Victoria Street at the weekend.

Between 11pm and 3am on Friday night, plants were torn out and thrown at a wall in Victoria Street.

Scotland’s Health Minister, Andy Kerr, was in Orkney on Monday as part of his annual review of health boards across the country.

Prior to chairing NHS Orkney’s annual review in the Pickaquoy Centre at 5.00pm, the Minister officially opened the new Renal Unit at the Balfour Hospital.

Speaking in advance of his visit to the Renal Unit, Mr Kerr said: "I am delighted to visit this brand new Renal Unit that has been delivered for the benefit of Orkney patients.

"Everyone involved in the project should be very proud of this new service which offers comfortable surroundings for patients and their families as well as a pleasant working environment for staff.

Police are trying to trace a witness to an accident in Thurso at the weekend.

A silver Ford Focus was struck by another car in the car park of Beach Road, Thurso between 2.30pm and 3.15pm on Sunday, July 30.

A witness, who is believed to come to Orkney, took the registration of the car which struck the Ford Focus and handed it to the driver.

A woman was struck by a car on the road to Scapa on Friday night, but the driver did not stop.

The woman was hit by the vehicle as she walked along New Scapa Road towards Scapa beach around 10.40pm on Friday night.

It was a Sunday with a difference when eight strongmen descended on Kirkwall Harbour to take part in the annual Orkney and Shetland Strongman competition.

A busy crowd gathered to see the eight athletes, with a passion for power, battle through six different rounds, which included lifting tyres, beer barrels, a car, sandbags, and even pulling a Land Rover.

Shetland's Neil Hamilton took the overall title for the second year running, while local competitor Dave Dalrymple finished second, reclaiming his position as Orkney¹s Strongest Man.