Busy day one of Island Games sporting action

The sporting competition at the 2017 NatWest Island Games begins today, with Orkney’s medal hopefuls, the small-bore shooters, among the first to compete.

Donald Sinclair and Bobby Spence won bronze two years ago in the NSRA 100 yards Prone Rifle event, and this time around, they will be one of ten teams shooting for medals, when they begin their competition at 9am, at Svadje shooting range, east of Visby.

Elsewhere, Orkney’s badminton players get their campaign underway, when they take to the court against Menorca, They will also play Guernsey and Ynys Môn in a busy day of action.

The county’s footballers take on Menorca in a difficult opening match in Group A. Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm in Stenkryka, approximately 15 minutes drive north-west of Visby. The team had an early morning training session this morning and are eagerly anticipating their first Island Games match in 12 years against the bronze medallists of 2015.

Alison Leitch is the first Orkney competitor in the triathlon, while the men’s side of Torquil Clyde, Bobby Oag, Paul Kerr and Bobby Oag, begin at 1pm.

A variety of athletic events will also take place in the evening, with Paul Kerr and Tim Ross ending the day’s competition in the 10,000m final.