Select a region
Guernsey’s archers are looking to make the most of the opportunity to compete against people from around the world during the NatWest International Island Games.
The team spans the generations, with the youngest archer just 14 and the oldest in their 70s. The team also has two father and daughters combinations taking part.
Tournament organiser Steve Yates said the Games was a good step up in level from the county championships which was normally their only competition off-island.
“It's a good chance to test ourselves against the wider world,” he said.
It has been six years since the last archery competition in the Island Games, making it difficult to make predictions where the main challengers will come from.
The Faroes Islands are expected to be very strong. Jersey's Lucy O'Sullivan, a GB representative, is another name to watch out for.
Pictured: Lucy O'Sullivan.
The benefit of it being a home Games means it is probably the first time that, without the travel expense to worry about, Guernsey has fielded a full archery team of 16.
Seven will be making their Games debut at the Port Soif range.
For the spectator it will offer something very different from the more action packed sports like football.
A good pair of binoculars will help in seeing whether an arrow has hit the target and there should ve scopes to borrow for those down to follow the final.
Yates competed in his first Island Games in the Isle of Wight in 1993, competing in ten Games overall. He won gold in Guernsey 2003.
Pictured: Steve Yates at Gotland 2019.
“That's always been my favourite Games, not just for the gold medal, but just for the support and the atmosphere.
“I'm sure it's going to happen this year as well, but in 2003, the whole Island was behind the Games.”
Among those fielding archery teams are the Isle of Wight. Their archery captain Rob Palmer has competed in three Island Games, including Guernsey 2003.
Speaking to the IoW County Press, he said: "It's a lot more international than anything I've ever done before. You get to meet some nice people from different parts of the world and it's a nice week away..
"Hopefully we'll produce some good archery. It's a life experience, as well as a sporting experience."
The full interview with Steve Yates focusses on archery as part of Express’ 'Beyond the Games' podcast series, a daily insight into the Island Games proudly sponsored by SG Kleinwort Hambros Bank Limited, Jersey branch and Guernsey branch:
Pictured top: Steve Yates.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.