Latest news with #IslandGames
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wootton sailor a gold medallist and flag bearer after cancer diagnosis
AN ISLE of Wight sailor who had to spend time away from the water following a cancer diagnosis went on to not only win gold at the Island Games but also become a flag bearer for its closing ceremony. Two years ago, Arthur Farley wanted to compete in the games, but couldn't, after learning he had a rare and life-threatening cancer. But the talented Island sailor didn't let that scupper his dreams — bravely taking it head-on and, as has been a habit throughout his career, winning. Now, he stands as a gold medallist for individual and team in an astonishing display. Read more: Team Isle of Wight notch up 11 medals on day to remember Island Games: How Team Isle of Wight fared on day 4 in Orkney He's also been commended for his outstanding contribution in support of other sports; a very proud moment for the 21-year-old. Arthur, of Wootton, was tipped for a bright future in Laser sailing as a teenager — winning national and European titles, with a world accolade and a successful step up to senior level firmly in his sights. Isle of Wight sailor battling cancer for Olympics dream He had climbed the UK's youth rankings to the pinnacle, then up to youth Olympic level, after he won the Europeans in 2022. But underlying it all, Arthur's health was gradually and very seriously deteriorating. He was suffering with a rare and chronic type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow — hairy cell leukaemia — a disease which only affects a handful of under-35s in the UK each year.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Island Games close after a week of wins, friendship and memories
The 20th Island Games have come to an end after a sensational week for many of the 24 islands competing. The Faroe Islands, who will host the 2027 games, came top of the medals table with Jersey and Guernsey in second and third place. A closing ceremony concluded the event with a short handover ceremony followed by a private celebration for athletes and officials. This year, the 12-sport event returned to Scotland for the first time since 2005, when it was hosted by Shetland. Sunny weather that Orkney could only have dreamed of gave visitors from afar a great first impression of the archipelago. Andrew Inkster, chair of the International Island Games Association, said the games had been "truly incredible". "I always knew it would be," he said. "I had high hopes for Orkney and the community putting on an incredible spectacle. "The levels of support and the fantastic scenes we've seen all week, it's really been a memorable week and one that will last long in everybody's memories." The week kicked off with the opening ceremony at Kirkwall's Bignold Park in front of 2,500 people. The Princess Royal officially opened the games, while Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and BBC Radio Orkney's Stewart Bain hosted the festivities. Smiling competitors joined together and marched down the streets waving the flags of their home islands. For Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, there was plenty to celebrate. The hosts came 6th in the table, the best result they have ever seen in an Island Games. The Western Isles came 8th and Shetland in 14th place. Orkney struck success on the first day of the games, scooping gold for the Women's Triathlon and bronze for the Men's Triathlon thanks to Claire Rendall and Bobby Oag. Claire said she was "over the moon" and that her win didn't feel real. "My arms were going a bit dead by the time I got out of the water, but I thought, I'm not going to use them by the end of the race so might as well give it beans. "I've felt so much pressure. It's the first event, I just wanted to make Orkney proud." Ola the Orca brought fun to crowds across the events. The games' mascot was created by Sarah Sutcliffe, 12, who won a competition entered by 880 local children and young people. There were plenty of accompanying events throughout Kirkwall for children and young people to get involved. Local sprinter, Taylah Paterson, has been crowned Orkney's golden girl by locals. She won for Orkney in the 100m and 200m races. She also secured two gold medals in the 4x100m, and 4x400m group races. In 2022, Paterson represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games. A year later, she welcomed her daughter Lara in to the world. Taylah says a lot of sacrifice has gone into her gold medals. "I picked up an injury at the start of the year and this didn't seem like the outcome that was going to be but, I kept telling myself even when I was injured, you're going to be a gold medallist at the island games." Taylah received her 100m medal from Hilary Rendall, previously known as Donaldson when she won gold in the 100m in first Island Games in 1985. The volunteers were another huge part of the games. Andrew Inkster said: "The tangerine dream, as they've been called, have been great "I think the visitors to the island have really appreciated that warm community feeling, which I knew Orkney would bring." Many of the athletes from the 24 island groups have been badge-swapping. Athletes and team members exchange pin badges with other island teams, proving that the so called 'friendly games' really is what it says. This practice is a fun way to break the ice with competitors and celebrate the spirit of the games. On Thursday, Grant Ferguson won the first gold for Shetland in the mountain biking cross country. He said: "I've done two Commonwealth Games for Scotland and then the Rio Olympics, which seems like a while ago now. "I do try and keep racing each year and I've kept quite a bit of fitness so to get the option to do the island games was like yeah of course, I'll have a go at that." Kara Hanlon, who is also a former Commonwealth Games athlete and comes from the Western Isles, broke two swimming records in the Women's 100m and 200m breaststroke. She received a gold medal for both, as well as gold in the Women's 100m Individual Medley and Women's 50m breaststroke. One of the biggest highlights of the week was the Orkney vs Shetland football knockout, where the teams played against each other to secure fifth place in the competition. Orkney won 3-2 in front of a 2,000-strong crowd. The week concluded on Friday, with athletics, football, gymnastics, badminton, cycling, sailing and squash events. The Western Isles women's half marathon team won, with Shetland in second and the Isle of Man third. Orkney's women's 4x100m relay team also got gold, as well as the 4x400m relay, securing Taylah Paterson her fourth gold medal. Planning any event can present major hurdles but Andrew Inkster said Orkney had outdone itself. "Being the smallest island ever to host was always a huge challenge for Orkney. It's handled these challenges really well. "I have no doubt the buzz after this week will last long and the memories certainly." A full list of Island Games 2025 results can be found here. Family of bakers on a roll as they take four Island Games medals Sleeping in cars and making friends - the Island Games volunteers Island Games: Everything you need to know about Orkney 2025
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Island Games 2025 close after a week of friendship and memories
The 20th Island Games have come to an end after a sensational week for many of the 24 islands Faroe Islands, who will host the 2027 games, came top of the medals table with Jersey and Guernsey in second and third place.A closing ceremony concluded the event with a short handover ceremony followed by a private celebration for athletes and year, the 12-sport event returned to Scotland for the first time since 2005, when it was hosted by Shetland. Sunny weather that Orkney could only have dreamed of gave visitors from afar a great first impression of the Inkster, chair of the International Island Games Association, said the games had been "truly incredible". "I always knew it would be," he said. "I had high hopes for Orkney and the community putting on an incredible spectacle."The levels of support and the fantastic scenes we've seen all week, it's really been a memorable week and one that will last long in everybody's memories." The week kicked off with the opening ceremony at Kirkwall's Bignold Park in front of 2,500 Princess Royal officially opened the games, while Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and BBC Radio Orkney's Stewart Bain hosted the competitors joined together and marched down the streets waving the flags of their home islands. For Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, there was plenty to hosts came 6th in the table, the best result they have ever seen in an Island Western Isles came 8th and Shetland in 14th struck success on the first day of the games, scooping gold for the Women's Triathlon and bronze for the Men's Triathlon thanks to Claire Rendall and Bobby Oag. Claire said she was "over the moon" and that her win didn't feel real. "My arms were going a bit dead by the time I got out of the water, but I thought, I'm not going to use them by the end of the race so might as well give it beans."I've felt so much pressure. It's the first event, I just wanted to make Orkney proud." Ola the Orca brought fun to crowds across the games' mascot was created by Sarah Sutcliffe, 12, who won a competition entered by 880 local children and young were plenty of accompanying events throughout Kirkwall for children and young people to get involved. Local sprinter, Taylah Paterson, has been crowned Orkney's golden girl by won for Orkney in the 100m and 200m races. She also secured two gold medals in the 4x100m, and 4x400m group 2022, Paterson represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games. A year later, she welcomed her daughter Lara in to the world. Taylah says a lot of sacrifice has gone into her gold medals."I picked up an injury at the start of the year and this didn't seem like the outcome that was going to be but, I kept telling myself even when I was injured, you're going to be a gold medallist at the island games."Taylah received her 100m medal from Hilary Rendall, previously known as Donaldson when she won gold in the 100m in first Island Games in 1985. The volunteers were another huge part of the games. Andrew Inkster said: "The tangerine dream, as they've been called, have been great"I think the visitors to the island have really appreciated that warm community feeling, which I knew Orkney would bring." Many of the athletes from the 24 island groups have been badge-swapping. Athletes and team members exchange pin badges with other island teams, proving that the so called 'friendly games' really is what it practice is a fun way to break the ice with competitors and celebrate the spirit of the games. On Thursday, Grant Ferguson won the first gold for Shetland in the mountain biking cross said: "I've done two Commonwealth Games for Scotland and then the Rio Olympics, which seems like a while ago now. "I do try and keep racing each year and I've kept quite a bit of fitness so to get the option to do the island games was like yeah of course, I'll have a go at that." Kara Hanlon, who is also a former Commonwealth Games athlete and comes from the Western Isles, broke two swimming records in the Women's 100m and 200m breaststroke. She received a gold medal for both, as well as gold in the Women's 100m Individual Medley and Women's 50m breaststroke. One of the biggest highlights of the week was the Orkney vs Shetland football knockout, where the teams played against each other to secure fifth place in the won 3-2 in front of a 2,000-strong week concluded on Friday, with athletics, football, gymnastics, badminton, cycling, sailing and squash events. The Western Isles women's half marathon team won, with Shetland in second and the Isle of Man women's 4x100m relay team also got gold, as well as the 4x400m relay, securing Taylah Paterson her fourth gold any event can present major hurdles but Andrew Inkster said Orkney had outdone itself. "Being the smallest island ever to host was always a huge challenge for Orkney. It's handled these challenges really well. "I have no doubt the buzz after this week will last long and the memories certainly."A full list of Island Games 2025 results can be found here.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Half-marathon IOM magic on Island Games' final day
Manx athletes are celebrating at the Island Games after claiming 19 medals on the final day of action, including gold in both the men's and women's half-marathons. Christa Cain dominated the 13.1m (21.1km) road race to take her third victory in three races while Corrin Leeming won the men's race. Gymnast Amara Brogan also secured gold in Orkney to take the Isle of Man's medal haul to 80 and fourth place in the overall standings. There was heartbreak for the Manx women's football team, however, with them losing to Bermuda on penalties after their opponents equalised late in extra-time. Cain, who won the 10,000m and 5,000m events earlier in the week, said the "half-marathon is my bag so I was looking forward to this one, I'm much more comfortable on the road". Finishing more than six minutes clear of Jersey's Jess Troy, Cain said she had "a great time out there and the crowd were really supportive, so that helped get me round". She said the support from back home had also been a "big help - my family have been messaging me flat out because it's not been so easy for supporters to travel". Cain added: "I really can't wait to get back and give everyone a big hug." Cain also added a bronze medal in the women's team half-marathon category, alongside Dawn Atherton and Emily Mylchreest. Securing his second gold of the games by posting a time of one hour and seven minutes, Leeming said the course had been "really hard" because "it's literally all up or down, so it wasn't the fastest of days". He said he had been nervous before the race but gold had always been his goal. "I wanted it quite badly today," Leeming said, "so it's really nice to get there." As for his immediate plans, he said they would include "quite a bit of sleeping, because I'm quite tired and quite sore!" In gymnastics, Brogan topped the podium in the beam event, with Lacey Jackson coming a close second. Fraser McKenna takes home a silver from the parallel bars contest, while Harry Eyres claimed second spot in the high bar category and a bronze in the floor event. In vaulting, Elise Pease was awarded bronze, as was Aine Matthews on the asymmetric bars, which means the gymnastics squad flies home with 22 medals. Manager of the women's football team Wayne Lisy said he "really thought the team had done it" when Milly Dawson put the team 1-0 up in the second half of extra-time. He said losing on penalties had been "hard to take". But he said the squad, who very nearly missed out on the contest after being picked as third reserve in the initial draw, deserved their silver medal. While the result was not what the team had set out for, captain Becky Corkish said "the girls dug deep and left everything out on that pitch". "I couldn't be prouder of them," she added. The men's football team picked up a bronze medal, beating Jersey 3-2 after a last-minute penalty in their third place play-off. Elsewhere, cyclist Tyler Hannay added a silver medal to his collection in the town centre criterium, which means he takes home six medals - two of each colour from his first Island Games. The men's team were also awarded silver at the event held in Kirkwall. In badminton, Kim Clague missed out on claiming gold in the women's doubles for the sixth consecutive time when she and her partner Jess Li lost in the final to their opponents from the Faroe Islands. On the athletics track, Samuel Perry claimed silver in the 800m to add to the 1,500m bronze he secured on Tuesday. He was also part of the 4x400m relay team that came third on the last day of the contest, alongside team-mates Ben Sinclair and brothers Regan and Ryan Corrin. Manx runners also claimed bronze in the men's 4x100m event to take the number of medals won by the athletics squad to 15 across the week. While the Isle of Man matched the final team position achieved in Guernsey in 2023, Manx athletes picked up an 17 extra medals in Orkney, which only hosted 12 sports compared to 14 two years ago. The Games will end with a closing ceremony at The Pickaquoy Centre, which played host to five of the 12 sports, later on Friday. The next Island Games will be held in the Faroe Islands in 2027. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. More on this story Double gold in golf adds to Manx games medal tally Isle of Man's Island Games medal tally rises to 45 Record-breaking swimmers add to Manx medal tally Manx athletes break records at Orkney Island Games Cain smashes record to win gold at Island Games 'Running for my adopted home at games feels right' Island Games fever takes hold in transformed Orkney Manx gymnast to be games' youngest competitor at 13 Dad and daughter 'rooting for each other' at games Footballers 'determined' to go for gold at games Team 'ready to make Isle of Man proud' at games Related internet links Orkney Island Games 2025
ITV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Isle of Man finishes 4th in Island Games after taking home 19 gold medals in Orkney
The Isle of Man has finished 4th in the Island Games after securing a total of 19 gold medals in Orkney. Manx competitors achieved a total of 80 medals across multiple sports, with the most medals achieved by Manx swimmers. The swimming team received a total of 6 golds, 7 silvers and 6 bronze medals across various swimming events. Joel Watterson took five golds in the 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x50m freestyle relay, 4x50m medley relay, 50m freestyle, and 4x50 medley relay. It was five golds also for Harry Robinson, who notably broke the games record in the 50m backstroke, and helped break the record as part of the 50m medley relay team. In athletics, Corrin Leeming became the first athlete to break the 30-minute barrier in the 10,000m, finishing with a time of 29:56 and securing gold. Christa Cain also broke the record in the women's 10,000m the previous day with a time of 35:16. A record to accompany her three gold medals achieved at her first ever Island Games. In gymnastics, Amara Brogan took gold in the women's all around competition, adding to the Manx tally. Golfer Daryl Callister also took the top spot in the individual event, while the Isle of Man's golfing team also came first in their respective event. In cycling, Tyler Hannay finished top of the individual time trial event, and the team also took home a gold medal to accompany the solo win. Team Isle of Man received a total of 80 medals after a week of multiple sports including: Gold Swimming x6 Athletics x6 Gymnastics x3 Cycling x2 Golf x2 Silver Gymnastics x9 Swimming x7 Athletics x4 Cycling x3 Golf x1 Archery x1 Badminton x1 Football x1 Bronze Gymnastics x10 Swimming x6 Athletics x5 Archery x4 Badminton x4 Cycling x3 Triathlon x1 Football x1 The Island Games sees 24 teams compete in 12 different sports over the week-long event. This year, the event was held in Orkney, concluding on Friday 18 July. The very first Island Games competition was held in the Isle of Man in 1985, where 700 athletes from 15 islands travelled to Douglas. It was initially supposed to be a one-off event, but the Games have continued due to its success. The Isle of Man will next host the Island Games in 2029.
