For the past two decades, I have been an avid squash player, and I am once again stepping up to the international stage.
As well as being part of the organising committee for the squash event in the Orkney Island Games, I have been fortunate enough to be selected to be part of the playing squad for Orkney.
I am playing individually in the singles and as part of the team in the team event, and I will be sure to watch some of the doubles as well.
Back in 2019, I was fortunate enough to experience the Games in Gibraltar.
That was an incredible experience, something that I will never forget.
A true celebration of sport and island culture, those games were electric, but I have a sense that Orkney 2025 may be even better.
The sheer amount of hard work that all the teams, staff, and volunteers have put into these Games, and the unique Orkney atmosphere, means that these Games are unmissable.
The squash squad have been putting in a huge amount of effort, upping fitness, and improving our skills ready for the Games.
It’s not always easy to juggle training with our busy family lives and work commitments but we all know it will be worth it in the end.
Squash matches in the Island Games will be the best of five games, with the singles event using the Monrad system, doubles being a straight knock out, and the team games are a round robin.
Fortunately, we have excellent squash facilities at the Pickaquoy Centre to add to the quality of the Island Games.
The Pickaquoy Centre has three glass-backed courts, identical to those featured at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with retractable walls allowing two double courts to be created.
We also have Scottish Squash on board to assist with the running of the event and we have leaned on their expertise and experience to get everything ready.
This has meant the team can focus on perfecting our form to, hopefully, bring home medals in the Games themselves.
The whole community came out in support of the Games in Gibraltar, and I know that we will do the same.
When I’m not on the squash court, I will be soaking in the atmosphere and watching as many of the other sports as I can and supporting the squash squad and other local athletes.
I look forward to seeing it all come together in July, and I can’t wait to see the turnout from islanders and visitors alike.
We will be charting the Island Games, and the Scholes team’s contributions, as they unfold.
