Sport in Guernsey

Guernsey participates in its own right in the Commonwealth Games.

Guernsey participates in the bi-annual Island Games, which it hosted in 1987 and 2003. In sporting events in which Guernsey does not have international representation, when the British Home Nations are competing separately, islanders that do have high athletic skill may choose to compete for any of the Home Nations – there are, however, restrictions on subsequent transfers to represent another Home Nation. The football player Matt Le Tissier for example, tried out for the Scotland national football team but ended up playing for England.

The island's traditional colour (e.g. for sporting events) is green.

Association football

The Guernsey Football Association runs Guernsey football. The top tier of Guernsey football is the Sure Mobile Priaulx league where there are 7 teams (Belgrave Wanderers, Northerners, Sylvans, St Martin's, Rovers, Rangers and Vale Recreation). The champions in 2006-07 were Northerners. The second tier is the Jackson league which is a mixture of top league players, lower players and youth players. The third tier is the Railway League, featuring three extra teams, Alderney, Guernsey Police and Port City.

The Corbet Football Field donated by Jurat Wilfred Corbet OBE in 1932 has fostered the sport greatly over the years. Although more recently the island has upgraded to a larger, better quality stadium, called Footes Lane. [http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38868000/jpg/_38868145_guernseystadium203.jpgBBC photo of Guernsey Stadium]

The annual Muratti match between the Channel Islands gives an airing to the traditional rivalry between Guernsey and Jersey.

Cricket

Guernsey was declared an affiliate member by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2005. [http://icc.cricket.org/icc-news/content/story/220287.html]

Motor sports

Guernsey also enjoys various motor sports. In season, regular races take place on the sands on Vazon beach on the west coast. Le Val des Terres, a steeply winding road rising south from St Peter Port to Fort George, is often the focus of both local and international hill-climb races. In addition, the 2005, 2006, and 2007 World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx is a Guernseyman.

Horse racing

The racecourse on L'Ancresse Common was re-established in 2004, and races are held on most Bank Holidays, with competitors from Guernsey as well as Jersey, France and the UK participating.

Rugby union

Guernsey RUFC was founded in 1928 [http://www.grufc.co.uk/] and competes in the English leagues. There are two other clubs: St. Jacques RUFC, and Sylvans RFC. Sylvans was founded in 1989 and has a 1st & 2nd XV [http://user.itl.net/~panther/rugby.htm] .

ee also

*Sport in the United Kingdom
*Sport in Jersey
*Sport in Alderney

References