Shooters left disappointed as sport axed from games

Tim Kneale is the only Manx athlete to have won medals at two different Commonwealth Games

The Isle of Man Target Shooting Federation has questioned the Manx government's decision to omit gun sports from the 2029 Island Games.

Usually a successful event for the island, shooters have claimed more than 180 medals at the games and won half of the Isle of Man's 12 Commonwealth Games medals.

The government committee chosen to organise the games has said shooting "did not meet the criteria of what it wants to achieve from the event".

But federation chairman Harry Creevy, who has represented the island at eight Commonwealth Games, said the decision was "extremely disappointing".

'Compromise hope

The 2029 Island Games will be the first time the Isle of Man, which created the event in 1985, will have hosted it since 2001.

The federation said the island has "excellent competition facilities" for the games, as well as four nationally and two internationally-licensed officials, including a senior judge at the Tokyo Olympics.

"As one of the strongest Isle of Man sports at Island Games and Commonwealth Games, the impact is being felt throughout the shooting community on the island," Mr Creevy said.

"We hope that the decision will be revisited and a compromise found which will enable athletes to compete in the home games."

A government spokesman said the committee "was faced with an extremely difficult task of having to pick a maximum of 14 sports from 18 and unfortunately four would be left disappointed".

They said the committee also wanted sports featuring a high number of female competitors which can provide a "high quality spectator experience", with facilities mostly in the east of the island.

Archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football, golf, gymnastics, squash, swimming, table-tennis, tennis, triathlon and volleyball make up the 14 sports selected.

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