Speaking as the first of 17 short films is released on www.jerseylovessport.com and on Jersey Sport Development’s Twitter page, Constable Steve Pallett said he hopes the interest raised during Jersey 2015 will continue to grow well into 2016, and he also believes the videos can help generate business for the Island’s tourism industry.
‘It’s all about keeping a bit of momentum from the Island Games,’ Pallett explained. ‘We had a lot of film taken throughout the week, and now we’ve been able to edit that into some exciting short films.
‘It is a great opportunity for individual sports to get their message out and interest people, and it’s a good time of year to do it. We’ve had Christmas and New Year and now people are thinking about how to get fit and healthy and are having a look at sports that might excite them.
‘The videos will also show the Island at its best.
‘Some of the film has been used to promote Jersey from a tourism point of view, but clearly we also want to promote it from a sporting point of view as well.
‘We have some fantastic facilities and a fantastic environment for people to enjoy.’
Archery is the first sport to have its Games footage released, and further videos will be unveiled daily until Wednesday 27 January.
TEAM manager Sandra Robinson says last summer’s Island Games were great for the Jersey archers who participated and that the Archers Association of Jersey are hoping to build on that success.
Mark Renouf and Great Britain representative Lucy O’Sullivan both won gold medals in their respective recurve and compound head-to-head events with O’Sullivan adding silver in the single FITA women’s compound.
There were a further two silvers won by the hosts in the compound and recurve team head-to-head knock-outs.
Robinson said: ‘It was a fantastic week; everyone gelled and as well as the successes with medals there was a lot of support from other islands’ officials, and competitors complimenting the facilities we used at the Jersey Rugby Club and the organisation of the tournaments.
‘We have two clubs in Jersey and as a result of the Games we have seen several new faces in the sport. Anyone else who would like to try archery out will be made more than welcome at either club.
‘The Jersey Archery Society and the Archers of Jersey will shortly be starting classes for beginners and all the equipment is provided by the clubs so that prospective members can try it without having to go to the expense of buying equipment to take part and then decide that archery is not for them.
‘People with disabilities are also very welcome and we are also upping our game by running a Level One coaching course in the near future.’
Robinson continued: ‘The reaction since the Games has been good with a lot of people asking how they can get involved, which is why the clubs will be putting on beginners’ classes shortly.
Heeley and GB Olympics team coach and development coaching official Lloyd Browne were coaching in the Island as recently as October, while last January Heeley was full of praise for a group of Jersey teenagers who attended coaching sessions as part of the NatWest Sport Development Programme.
Robinson added: ‘Going forward we are looking for Jersey archers to compete in more competitions off-Island with archers currently looking at various venues.
‘We also want to give teenagers an opportunity to shoot away as well.’
Anyone interested in joining an archery club can obtain further details from Archers of Jersey (telephone 483145) or Jersey Archery Society (telephone: 727986).
To relive video highlights of the Jersey 2015 Island Games archery competition, visit the archery page on www.jerseylovessport.com.
