Ladies’ compound archer Lucy O’Sullivan, who is making her NatWest Island Games debut, and men’s recurver Mike Coward, also the team manager, will both take their experiences of Delhi to the Isle of Wight.
They are joined by seven others, including three more Games newcomers in Paul Rehal, Steve Roche and Dan D’Orleans.
The team
Mike Coward (54): Quantity surveyor at Regal Construction. Team manager and men’s recurve shooter. Went to last year’s Commonwealth Games. Won individual silver in Aland and hopes to go one better at this, his second Games.
Did you know? Mike forgot to take his arrows to the shooting line in Aland. When the whistle went to he was seen rushing off the line to find them which he admits is not advisable when trying to keep your heart rate down!
Sporting idol: Viv Richards, a majestic batsman.
Paul Rehel (41): Operations manager at iQ Apple Store. Men’s recurve. First Games – hadn’t started the sport at the time of Aland 2009. Aims to improve and gain experience in competitions.
Did you know? Paul is a level one snowboard coach and bumped into Michael J Fox while in Whistler.
Sporting idol: Craig Kelly, a top snowboarder unfortunately killed in an avalanche. What made him special was that he turned his back on sponsorship to maintain his independence in the sport.
Bjarne Jacobsen (54): Engineer. Men’s recurve. Going to his second Island Games after Aland 2009 where he helped the team to sixth place and finished 34th individually.
Did you know? Bjarne used to do parachute jumping.
Sporting idol: Marshall arts expert Steve Seagal.
Steve Roche (42): Men’s recurve. Making his Games debut and his aims for the Games are to hit the target, stay sober and leave his team-mates alone.
Did you know? Steve was bitten by a snake once in Australia. The snake died.
Sporting idol: Dennis Lillee.
Jill Ruby (52): Pharmacist. Ladies’ recurve. Going to her second Games after Aland two years ago where the team placed sixth and she finished 11th individually and reached the last 16 of the head to head knockout.
Did you know? Jill gained university colours in hockey.
Sporting idol: Paula Radcliffe.
Karen Daw (45): Business manager, Deutsche Bank. Ladies’ recurve. Going to her fourth Games after Guernsey 2003, Shetland 2005 and Rhodes 2007. Has won gold in single FITA women’s recurve individual in Shetland and team gold in Guernsey.
Did you know? Karen is aiming to shoot well and hopefully bring home a medal.
Shayne Munday (47): IT engineer, CPC Services. Men’s compound. The Isle of Wight will be his third Games after Guernsey 2003 and Shetland 2005 where he won team gold and bronze respectively.
Did you know? Shayne hopes to do his best and enjoy the Games experience.
Sporting idol: Barry Sheene.
Dan D’Orleans (46): Pumping stations and telemetry systems manager for Transport and Technical Services. Men’s compound. Making his Games debut and hoping for a personal best and to finish in the top half of the table.
Did you know? Dan shot for The Royal Air Force Strike Command and Support Command in both rifle and pistol.
Sporting idol: Steve Redgrave – for showing age doesn’t matter, it’s how much effort you put in.
Lucy O’Sullivan (20): Second year Coaching and Sport Science student at Nottingham Trent University. Ladies’ compound. Finished ninth at the Commonwealth Games. Shot for Great Britain since the age of 14. Third in the Junior World Championships in 2006. Games debut and hoping for a medal.
Did you know? Although a lot of people recognise Lucy as Miss Battle of Flowers from 2009, not many people know that she loves gardening.
Sporting idol: Roger Federer.
SCHEDULE
Venue: Newclose County Cricket Ground in Newport.
Monday 27 June: FITA rounds 90m, 70m, 50m, 30m men’s recurve and compound; 70m, 60m, 50m, 30m ladies’ recurve and compound.
Tuesday 28 June: 720 round men’s and ladies’ recurve and compound, six dozen arrows at 70m.
Wednesday 29 June: Individual compound and recurve head to head.
Thursday 30 June: Recurve and compound team head to head.
