One day to go and the excitement is building. Let us introduce Sammie Cox.
Sammie is a Director at Cleland & Co, having joined as a trainee accountant in 2009.
Sammie started playing basketball at the Grammar School. She was inspired to play after watching the women’s basketball in the last Guernsey Island Games in 2003. She played at island level up until the age of 18, after which she took a hiatus to focus on her studies.
10 years on, she travelled to Gibraltar to support her husband and team Guernsey at the Island Games in 2019, after which she decided to make a return to the sport. Sammie has played in the local league ever since, before then progressing to the Guernsey island women’s team. This will be her first time competing in an Island Games.
What are you most looking forward to at the Island Games
I am really looking forward to my first Island Games experience as a competitor, and particularly the fact that it is a home games. It will be great to play in front of the home crowd, including friends, family and colleagues. If the inter-insulars in May are anything to go by, the Guernsey supporters know how to create the atmosphere!
I am also looking forward to being able to move around and support other sports during the week, including supporting my husband who is part of the Guernsey road cycling team.
How are the preparations going? How are you juggling work and training?
Preparations are going well both personally and as a team. We are training twice a week, and I am also fitting in my own shooting practice and cardio/strength training around that. The training is taking up most of my evenings, but I am enjoying the focus and I know that the end goal is in sight. I am lucky to have a supportive work place (and husband!) that allows me to fit in my training alongside a busy working day.
How do you think Guernsey will do compared to the other Islands? What are their medal chances?
Aim high – the bigger the better, so we are going for gold! We don’t know how the other teams have progressed since the last Island Games 4 years ago, but we know we have a strong, versatile team, so I think we have a good chance of doing really well.
What kind of support have you had in the lead up?
I have had a huge amount of support from family, friends, clients and the team at Cleland & Co. I feel very fortunate for that support.
I want to say a particular thanks to Cleland for sponsoring t-shirts for the women’s basketball team. I will be incredibly proud to be wearing the t-shirt with the Cleland & Co logo, and representing both Guernsey and the firm.
Any other thoughts on the Island Games
Having been inspired by watching the Island Games in 2003 when I was younger, I encourage everyone to get involved and watch as much as they possibly can. Even if you don’t usually follow local sport, I have no doubt that supporting Team Guernsey will be an amazing experience for all. It would be a great legacy for the Guernsey Island Games to be the inspiration for young, local talent. So get out there with your Guernsey flags!
When can we support you?
Sunday 9th July at 2pm at Beau Sejour vs Isle of Man
Tuesday 11th July at 7pm ay Beau Sejour vs Faroe Islands
Wednesday 12th July time will depend on how we progress
Friday 14th July if we make it through to the medal stages