Guernsey participates in its own right in the Commonwealth Games.
Guernsey participates in the bi-annual Island Games, which it hosted in 1987, 2003 and 2023. 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.
Major individual sports include athletics, shooting, swimming, football and fencing. Guernsey's home football team, Guernsey F.C. competes in the Isthmian League Division One South and Guernsey has received a number of Commonwealth games medals for shooting. Fencing is a sport that is rapidly increasing in popularity with GB fencers such as Fraser Ward originating from the island.
Sport in Guernsey is governed by the Guernsey Sports Commission with another association, Sport Guernsey developing elite athletes.
The island's sporting county is Hampshire.
The island's traditional colour (e.g. for sporting events) is green.
Aikido
The Japanese martial art showing 'the way of spiritual harmony'
Archery Bowmen of Guernsey http://www.roversac.net/Archery.htm
Gold medals won at the Island Games
Island Games Archery EventWinnerRef Men's compound head-to-head 2003 Women's recurve Julie Nash 1999 Paula Rowland 2001 Chantelle Goubert 2015 Women's recurve head-to-head Lisa Gray 2015 Women's compound Terri Tough 2001 Team compound head-to-head knockout 2011
Artistic Roller Skating
Islanders compete in the Guernsey Eisteddfod
Association Football The Guernsey Football Association runs Guernsey football. The top tier of Guernsey football is the FNB Priaulx League where there are 9 teams (Belgrave Wanderers, Northerners, Sylvans, St Martin's, Rovers, Guernsey Rangers, Vale Recreation, Mazur and Alderney). The current champions are Rovers. 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.
Guernsey teams can compete for the Guernsey FA Cup.
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.BBC photo of Guernsey Stadium
The annual Muratti match between the Channel Islands gives an airing to the traditional rivalry between Guernsey and Jersey, Alderney also play either Guernsey or Jersey in the semi-final in Alderney.
In 2011, Guernsey F.C. was founded and became a member of the English Combined Counties Football League Division One, winning it in its inaugural season. earning promotion to the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division in 2012–13 and then promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South in 2013–14 which also gave entitlement to compete in the FA Cup.
Gold medals won at the Island Games
Men 2001, 2003, 2015
see: Guernsey FA Guernsey FC
Athletics Using the all-weather track at Footes Lane, Guernsey athletes compete in a number of disciplines in Island Games and the Commonwealth Games.
Guernsey has produced several Olympians, Guernsey-born Percy Hodge competed for Great Britain at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, winning gold in the 3000m Steeplechase. Dale Garland was a member of the Team GB 4x400m relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, while Lee Merrien competed for Team GB in the Marathon at the 2012 London Olympics.
Gold Medals won at the Island Games include:
Island Games Athletics – Men's EventWinnerRef Men 100m Ryan de Haaff 2003 Dale Garland 2005 Men 400m Dale Garland 2003, 2007 Tom Druce 2009, 2011 Cameron Chalmers 2015 Men 800m Tom Druce 2005, 2007, 2009 Men 1,500m Lee Merrien 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Men 5,000m Lee Merrien 2005, 2007, 2009 Men 3,000m steeplechase Lee Garland 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005 Half Marathon Alan Rowe 2003 Lee Merrien 2011, 2017 Men 110m Hurdles Dale Garland 2003, 2005 Glenn Etherington 2009, 2011 Men 400m Hurdles Dale Garland 2003 Sam Wallbridge 2013 Alastair Chalmers 2017 Men Long Jump Dale Garland 2003, 2005
Island Games Athletics – Women's EventWinnerRef Women 100m Kylie Robilliard 2011 Women 200m Hannah Lesbirel 2017 Women 400m Kimberley Goodall 2003, 2005, 2007 Women 800m Kimberley Goodall 2003 Women 5,000m Louise Perrio 2009, 2011 Sarah Mercier 2013, 2015 Women 10,000m Louise Perrio 2009, 2011, 2017 Women Half Marathon Penny Buckingham 2003 Louise Perrio 2017 Women 100m Hurdles Kylie Robilliard 2009 Women Long Jump Kimberley Goodall 2003, 2005 Women High Jump Erica Bodman 2003, 2005, 2007 Women Hammer Throw Emma King 2001
Island Games Athletics - Team EventWinnerRef Men 4 × 100 m relay 2015 Men 4 × 400 m relay 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015 Men Half marathon Team 2003, 2011, 2015 Women 4 × 100 m relay 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011 Women 4 × 400 m relay 2003, 2005 Women Half Marathon Team 2003, 2009
see http://www.guernseyathletics.org.gg
Badminton Popular in Guernsey with players competing in the Commonwealth Games
Gold medals won at the Island Games:
Island Games Badminton EventWinnerRef Men's Singles Mark Leadbeater Jimmy McKenna Glen MacFarlane 2001 Darren Le Tissier 2003 Paul Le Tocq 2013 Women's singles Sally Podger Elena Johnson 2003, 2013 Men's Doubles 2001, 2003 Mixed Doubles 2001, 2003, 2011, 2017 Women's Doubles 2003, 2009, 2011 Team Event 2001, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2017
see http://www.guernseybadminton.co.uk/
Bar Billiards
A popular sport in Guernsey, the local association holds an annual Guernsey Open event
see: http://www.guernseybarbilliards.org.uk/
Basketball Islanders compete in and has won medals at Basketball at the Island Games
Gold medals won at the Island Games
Women 2003
see http://guernseybasketball.co.uk
Bell Ringing (Campanology)
With four ringable towers in Guernsey the Islanders form part of the Channel Islands district of Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers.
Bowls
Indoor
Guernsey competes in the World Indoor Bowls Championships
Winning World Indoor Women's Singles Champion in 1990 Fleur Bougard, 2009Alison Merrien MBE, 2011 Alison Merrien MBE Winning World Indoor Mixed Pairs Championship 2011 Alison Merrien MBE and Simon Skelton
and at the British Isles Indoor Bowls Championship Winning British Isles Indoor Women's Singles Championship 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015 Alison Merrien MBE Winning British Isles Indoor Women's Pairs Championship 2005, 2013, 2014, 2015 Alison Merrien MBE with Carol Ingrouille then Shirley Petit Winning British Isles Indoor Men's Triples Championship 2006 Winning British Isles Indoor Women's Fours Championship 2001 Winning British Isles Indoor Men's Fours Championship 2010
and the WIBC Championships Winning WIBC Indoor Ladies champion - Alison Merrien MBE 2009, 2015 Winning WIBC Indoor Mixed Pairs Championship - Alison Merrien MBE 2001, 2004
Gold medals won at the Island Games include:
Island Games Bowls EventWinnerRef Men's Singles Paul Ingrouille 2005 Men's Pairs 2005 Men's Fours 2005 Men's Team Event 2005 Women's Singles Alison Merrien 2005 Women's Four's 2005 Women's Team Event 2005
Lawn
Medals won at the Commonwealth Games Silver 1986 Lawn Bowls Women's Doubles - Jennifer "Jennie" Nicolle and Marie Smith
Boxing
Organised by the Amalgamated Boys Club since 1936, the sport has been strong in Guernsey for over 100 years.
Ladies are also training and competing in competitions.
Canoeing and Sea Kayaking
A sport that has been increasing in popularity over recent years as equipment quality has increased.
see: http://guernseycanoeclub.com/file/Home.html
Chess
With divisions, knock-out competitions, an annual open international chess festival and with teams representing the Island at International competitions and the Chess Olympiad, you could say chess is a popular sport in the island.
See: http://www.guernseychessclub.org.gg/
Cheerleaders
For 4- to 27-year-old boys and girls, they perform at special local Guernsey events and UK competitions.
Cricket Guernsey was declared an affiliate member by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2005. Competing in the World Cricket League, having won promotion to 2016 ICC World Cricket League Division Five
There is a Channel Islands League in which Guernsey teams participate as well as an annual Inter-insular match against Jersey
Guernsey cricket team competing in the 2015 ICC Europe Division One of Twenty20 having won promotion from Division Two in 2010
From 2016, Guernsey is playing limited matches in Division 2 of the Sussex Cricket League after Sussex clubs voted unanimously to allow the island to join the competition.
According to the ICC, "Guernsey is believed to have the highest cricket participation rate per capita with around 3,000 (circa 5%) of the island's entire population playing the game either as adults in league cricket or as youngsters in the school system".
see http://www.guernseycricket.com/
Cycling
Cycling is very popular in Guernsey with Velo Club races throughout the year, including an annual inter insular event.
Guernsey cyclists compete in GHS UK events, the Island Games and the Commonwealth Games
Gold medals won at the Island Games include:
Island Games Cycling - Individual EventWinnerRef Men's Individual Town Centre Criterium Tobyn Horton 2007, 2011, 2013 Men's Individual Road Race Tobyn Horton 2013 Men's Mountain Bike Cross Country Rob Smart 2011 James Roe 2017 Men's Mountain Bike Criterium Rob Smart 2011 Women's Individual 25 km Time Trial Ann Bowditch 2001 Women's Individual Time Trial Ann Bowditch 2003, 2013 Women's Town Centre Criterion Ann Bowditch 2003, 2011, 2013 Women's Individual Mountain Bike Criterium Ann Bowditch 2003 Meggie Bichard 2007 Women's Individual Mountain Bike Cross Country Ann Bowditch 2003 Meggie Bichard 2007
Island Games Cycling - Team EventWinnerRef Men's Team Road Race 2013 Men's Team Mountain Bike Cross Country 2003, 2011, 2013 Women's Time Trial Team Event 2011, 2013, 2017 Women's Team Town Centre Criterium 2011 see http://www.gvc.gg/
For more relaxed cycling, there are regular charity cycling events, such as "Rock To Rocque", and the States of Guernsey promote cycle routes through the country parishes.
Dance
Many types of dance are undertaken, including:
Argentine Tango Ballet Ballroom Burlesque Charleston Guernsey traditional Irish Latin American Modern Morris Pole Salsa Scottish Street Tap Zumba
With dance festivals and competitions organised by dance schools.
See: - Dance
Darts
It is a popular sport in Guernsey for men and women, with several leagues and inter-island competitions organised.
See: http://www.guernseydarts.com/
Disability sports
Guernsey Sports Association for the Disabled offer general sports aimed at people with a variety of abilities across different ages with an annual participation in a UK Disability Games competition.
Equestrian
Including: Show jumping Pony club Horse driving Riding and hunting
with some events held at the annual West Show.
See: http://www.bsguernsey.co.uk/
Euchre
With divisions, leagues and knock out competitions, this card game is played by many in Guernsey locations.
see: http://guernseyeuchre.com
Fencing
Guernsey is renowned for its strong fencing ability. The island competes at a number of levels, competing in national competitions all the way up to the Commonwealths. Guernsey has won two medals at Commonwealth Junior level. GB Fencers such as Fraser Ward are from Guernsey.
see: http://www.guernseyfencing.com/
Fishing
Sea fishing from the shore and boats is very popular, with a number of British records being held with fish caught in Bailiwick waters.
Five-a-Side football