Around the islands

‘Chance of a lifetime’

Isle of Wight golfers arrive in Bermuda with high hopes after two golds for the women and two silver for the men at their own Games two years ago.

At Port Royal Golf Club, they will look to do it all again — and can’t wait to get stuck into the PGA Grand Slam of Golf course.

“It’s a very challenging course but then it has to be with the PGA event there,” said George Foreman, the men’s team co-ordinator told the Isle of Wight County Press. “But it’s the chance of a lifetime, who can say they’ve been to Bermuda?”

The women’s team are defending champions and team member Emma Powell said: “I think the grass is different over there, and where the course is by the sea it will probably be quite windy, so it will be a tough few days. We’re looking forward to it.”

Men’s player Brandon Robinson-Thompson, who moves to a college in South Carolina later this year, said:  “We’re going to come home with a couple of gold medals.

“I say bring it on! This is an amazing opportunity — I would have never gone to Bermuda if it wasn’t for this — and we need to take it.”

Manx team depleted

Around 100 athletes and officials from the Isle of Man will be in Bermuda for the Island Games.

The Manx team is around half the size of the one which finished second in the medal table in the Isle of Wight two years ago.

Isle of Man team manager Gary Jakeman said for those going it will be a “trip of a lifetime”.

Jakeman added: “The team are very excited. We are based in Hamilton and the facilities are excellent. It is costing around £2,000 per person, so obviously it has not been possible for everyone who wanted to compete to get there.

“It is important that we get there early enough to acclimatise as it will be incredibly hot and very humid.”

Scots braced for sun

Team Shetland left for Bermuda with one key message ringing in their ears —don’t forget sun cream.

The 45-strong team feature five triathletes, who have already arrived on the island in preparation for Sunday’s race.

Shetland Island Games Association secretary Bob Kerr said: “It is really hot, really sticky, “ he said. “A claggy, sticky heat.

“I would have thought it would have been obvious for anyone leaving the north of Scotland, but please take sun cream and sun hats, and lots of people in Bermuda have said, ‘please stay hydrated’.”