Team Shetland confirms entry for Jersey 2015
News release - Monday 27th April 2015
Enlarge Image
Shetland Island Games Association (SIGA) today confirmed their entry of 141 competitors and officials to this year’s NatWest Island Games in Jersey this summer. The deadline for all 24 competing islands to submit individual entries is today, exactly two months before the Opening Ceremony in St Helier on Saturday 27th June.
Over recent months, local sports organisations have been finalising their selection of competitors to represent Shetland at this year’s Games. Shetland will be competing in twelve sports during the Games week – archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, men’s football, golf, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, triathlon and volleyball.
This year’s Team includes swimmers Andrea Strachan and Felix Gifford; and track athlete Emma Leask, all of whom will be defending their gold medals won at the last Games, in Bermuda in 2013.
This year also sees the largest ever Shetland team to travel off-island, with the team size strengthened by the inclusion of the Shetland men’s football team, for the first time since 2009; and the Shetland men’s volleyball team, for the first time since 2005.
The 2015 Games is widely expected to have one of the largest entries ever, with around 3000 participants anticipated this year, following a lower turn-out in Bermuda, where travel distance is thought to have deterred a number of competitors from taking part.
Andrew Inkster, SIGA Chairman, commented: “This is a key date for us and we are now in the home straight, ahead of the Opening Ceremony in Jersey two months’ time. Our planning so far has gone well, with entries now submitted, as well as travel, accommodation and tracksuits. It’s now up to the competitors and their coaches to put in the hard work over the next few weeks ahead of what will be a hard week of competition in Jersey.”
Lorraine Gifford, Shetland Swim Coach added: “We have a mix of both younger and more experienced swimmers who have had a tough training programme for several months and are now working hard on their final preparations. We’re looking forward to a demanding but exciting week of swimming competition at the Games.”
Team Shetland is proud to be sponsored by Malakoff Limited, Shetland's leading engineering and fabrication contractor; and Bolts Car Hire, Shetland’s leading vehicle rental company.
ENDS
Click here to see the full team list (PDF, 239Kb)
