'Nerves and excitement' ahead of Island Games

Orkney is hosting the 20th edition of the Island Games

Athletes have been sharing their thoughts on representing Guernsey as they prepare to compete in the Island Games.

The team of 144 competitors have made the 660-mile trip to Orkney ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, with several more representing Alderney and Sark.

Badminton player and games first-timer, 14-year-old Medha, is the water carrier for the ceremony. She said she was feeling a mixture of "nerves and excitement".

"It is quite a big role and I'm obviously really grateful to have been given it, and it's such an honour to have that symbolism with me," she said.

Amy Critchlow said she had come out of retirement to compete in the triathlon at her fifth and final games and she has been given the honour of carrying the Guernsey flag.

"It's been a 10-year period of either training for or competing in the Island Games."

Susan Wood said it was "quite terrifying" going to her first games in Guernsey two years ago as she had never done competitive sport before.

Ms Wood and the Alderney bowls team are competing in Orkney which they are "very much excited for" after years of training.

She said: "We're really only looking to score a few points, and if we won one game we'd be absolutely thrilled – we know our limitations."

Archer Kevin Adams is representing Sark at the Island Games

Kevin Adams, who is well known in Sark and in the archery community, said it took him days to reach Orkney

"Lots of boats, trains, tractors, lots of different vehicles to get here, but the island is fantastic, it is absolutely breath-taking," he said.

"I'm here to enjoy, to take part, to participate, to wave the flag for Sark, represent the island. I'm very proud of it."

Orla Rabey said this would be her final Island Games

At 13, gymnast Amelia is one of Guernsey's youngest competitors.

"I'm really excited, I'm excited to perform," she said.

She added that a gymnastics competition in Aaland two years ago had given her the confidence to deliver on a bigger stage.

"It was an opportunity to compete in front of a big crowd of people, and it was really fun," she said.

Orla Rabey, who was Guernsey's most decorated athlete two years ago when she won six gold medals, a silver and two bronzes in swimming, said she was planning to step down from the team after this year to make way for the next generation.

"I'm around 23 and usually swimmers kind of tend to stop at 23-ish," she said.

"There's some really talented younger swimmers coming up and I'd love to give them the opportunity to be able to go and compete."

Sisters Zoe and Lisa Gray are both competing in archery in this year's games

Sisters Zoe and Lisa Gray will be sharing the archery field together again, and Zoe said having the support of her sister had been important over the years.

"Thankfully, we shoot different bow styles, so we're not actually ever against each other, so we can support each other from the side-lines," she said.

"But it is actually really nice that you know that every competition you go to you've got your sister there."

Jon Marley, chair of Guernsey Island Games Association, said: "I am so proud of our committee, team managers and competitors who all put their hands up and have got us to this point.

"I've received messages from previous committee members and the Commonwealth Games committee all wishing us well.

"The hard work of getting prepared for Orkney is done now - we just need to get there and give it our best shot."