Double gold in golf adds to Manx games medal tally

The Isle of Man has secured another 16 medals on the penultimate day of the Island Games, with Manx athletes topping the podium in golf, gymnastics and swimming.

On Thursday Golfer Daryl Callister took gold in the individual event, while the men's team also came first in the competition held at the Orkney Golf Club in Kirkwall.

It was also double gold for swimmer Joel Watterson who was fastest on the night in the 50m butterfly and was part of the victorious 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Gymnast Amara Brogan secured gold in the women's all around competition, adding to the total of 61 medals, which put the island in fourth position overall going into the final day of action.

Callister said preparation for the gold event had been key as the team had "done their homework on the course", and a strong first round had set them up for the week.

Speaking to Manx Radio Sport, he said he had then "managed to hang on for dearest life" during the windy conditions in the subsequent rounds to clinch the individual gold.

Second spot went to Manxman Rob Noon, who alongside Callister, Liam Cowin and Chris Kneen also came away with the men's team gold.

"I don't think you could ask for a better week to be honest," Cowin said.

On the final night of action at the 2025 competition in the pool at the Pickaquoy Centre, the swimming squad took their overall haul to an impressive 19 medals.

Zach Bellhouse, Magnus Kelly and Harry Robinson joined Watterson at the top of the podium in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Watterson and Robinson joined also Chloe Batty and Laura Kinley to claim silver in the mixed 4x50m medley relay competition.

The evening also saw Robinson secure bronze in both the 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly events, bringing his personal medal tally at the 2025 games to 10.

There was more success for Manx gymnasts after scoring 10 medals on Monday.

Brogan said while she felt her performance on the vault had not been what she had hoped for, she had "managed to pick it up" on the other pieces of equipment, so it "felt great" to take gold in the all around event.

It also felt "amazing" to represent the Isle of Man at her first games, she added.

Team-mate Aine Matthews also collected bronze in the women's contest, while Harry Eyres and Fraser McKenna were awarded second and third places respectively in the men's all around.

Elsewhere, 18-year old Regan Corrin claimed silver in the triple jump, and the men's cycling team came in second in the mountain bike cross country contest.

In badminton, Matthew Nicholson and Jess Li claimed bronze the mixed doubles event, retaining the third place position they secured in 2023.

Wrapping up their 2025 campaign, the mixed archery team became bronze medallists in the compound head to head knockout.

Ethan Moore, who contributed to all five medals won by the archery squad, said the results across the week had been "beyond his expectations".

Reflecting on the performance, he said: "I'd had couple of disappointing games before, and I've trained as hard as I could. I think it's paid off and I'm ecstatic.

"As a team we've also been very strong, we've been right in there, right in the mix."

The squad were "very much looking forward" to the next games in the Faroe Islands in 2027, he added.

On the last day of action Manx athletes will be looking to boost their medal tally in the half marathon, the cycling criterium and the women's football team will play for gold against Bermuda.

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