Manx Radio's Friday Sport

With 15 medals at the last Island Games in Guernsey, it's perhaps no surprise the Isle of Man swimming team is in high spirits going into the latest games in Orkney this year.The number 15 is prominent again this time around - that's the number of swimmers who'll fly the Manx flag this month.At the heart of the team once more will be team manager, Erica Bellhouse and national team coach, Lee Holland.Manx Radio's been speaking with them both to get their thoughts on the campaign ahead:

In tonight's programme:Tonight (4 July) sees a meeting of some of the biggest football talent on Island as the Isle of Man men's national side and FC Isle of Man face off in a friendly under the floodlights at The BowlFor the first time ever, the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship is visiting the Island, we hear from the event's Director of RacingAnd we're continuing our countdown to the 2025 Island Games - we'll find out how preparations are going for the Isle of Man's golf teamAnd also - after a great medal haul at the games last time out - the Manx swimming squad tells us about their hopes for Orkney this monthThis week featuring Chris Bass, Paul Jones, Will Stephenson, Gary Ashe, Erica Bellhouse and Lee Holland

Golf is a sport in which the Isle of Man has enjoyed a good deal of success in at the Island Games previously, and there's hopes that the Manx squad can relive that feeling again in 2025.Eight players have been selected for the Isle of Man's golf team heading to Orkney this month.And spearheading their campaign as team manager is Gary AsheIn this extended interview, he sat down with Manx Radio at Douglas Golf Club recently to explain how much he and the team is relishing this latest challenge.

The latest Manx side we're taking a look ahead of the 2025 Island Games is one that has its message very clear... they're going for gold in Orkney.Having been crowned champions in Gotland in 2017, the Isle of Man men's football team had a disappointing campaign in 2023 in Guernsey by their standards, finishing ninth.Caretaker player/manager Chris Bass jnr. sat down with us recently to explain why - above all else - he believes his squad should settle for nothing less than the top prize this summer:

We're edging ever closer to the 2025 Island Games in Orkney and next in the spotlight on the Manx Radio SportsCast is the Isle of Man's triathlon team.After picking up three bronze medals at the previous event in Guernsey in 2023, the Manx squad will be back in games action with no few than ten athletes - six male and four female - looking to be in the hunt for honours.In this extended interview, we spoke recently with team manager Juan Kinley and athlete, Clara Isaac who's one of those making their maiden appearance in the games

We're continuing our countdown to the 2025 Island Games in Orkney from 12-18 July, and in this episode we speak with a team that very much has their eyes on focused on their targets.The Isle of Man archery team will head to this summer's event hoping to build on the six medals they claimed at the last games in 2023.Rhys Moore - who was among the team and individual medals in Guernsey two years ago - is part of a slimmed-down five-strong lineup flying the Manx flag in the sport this time around.In this extended interview, we caught up with Rhys at the team's summer training base at Greeba recently where he explained how the team's preparations have been and how the sport is doing locally in recent times

From years down to months... from months down to weeks... and now, we're just days away from the 2025 Island Games in Orkney.And ahead of the Isle of Man's campaign in Orkney, we at Manx Radio have been catching up with the respective teams over recent weeks and months to hear about the preparations, hopes and ambitions this year.In this episode of the Manx Radio SportsCast, we hear from a spot which is making an Island Games return after an eight-year absence - Gymnastics.In this extended interview, we catch up with Isle of Man gymnastics team manager Helen Duggan

In tonight's programme:Sir Mark Cavendish has officially unveiled the NSC raceway now renamed in his honour, we hear from the 'Manx Missile' himselfIt's been all action this week in Manx golf as we reach the semi-final stage of the Isle of Man Championships which are being held tonightWe hear from a Manx professional triathlete who'll be representing Great Britain this weekendWe get the latest on an international tennis tournament which has been held on Manx shores over the last weekAnd racing action returns in the north of the Island this weekend for the latest round of the ARA Championship at JurbyAnd our countdown to the 2025 Island Games continues as we catch up with the Manx triathlon squad heading to OrkneyFeaturing Sir Mark Cavendish, Gary Ashe, Will Draper, Paul Jarvis, Neal Champion, Juan Kinley and Clara Isaac

In tonight's programme:The 2025 Parish Walk is upon us, we hear from the Race Director ahead of this year's event getting underway tomorrow morningThe Isle of Man will play host to an international tennis tournament from Sunday for five days of competition in DouglasOne of the biggest events on the Isle of Man golf's calendar is here with qualifying for the 2025 Isle of Man Championships teeing off this weekendAnd with less than a month to go until the 2025 Island Games, we've been hearing from the teams making their way to Orkney in the next few weeksRob Pritchard is joined by Ray Cox, Paul Jarvis, Darryl Callister, Helen Duggan and Rhys Moore

One of the Isle of Man's major mass participation events is upon us once again with the 2025 Parish Walk taking place this coming weekend on 21st and 22nd June.The annual occasion sees hundreds of people from all walks of life take on all or part of a grueling yet visually stunning 85-mile route around this Island.Along with being a special day for those taking part, it sees the wider Manx community come together in support of all those taking up this big challenge.In this extended interview, we hear from Race Director Ray Cox

In tonight's programme:As the 2025 Island Games edge closer, the Isle of Man women's national football return to action on home soil this weekendHaving made Manx sporting history in boxing, we catch up with the Island fighter who's recently become a WBC championWe take a look into what's been happening and what's in store in the ever-busy world of Manx athleticsOne of the major events on the Isle of Man's cycling calendar is on the agenda this SundayAnd we take get an insight into what is a busy time of year for the Isle of Man's golf sceneRob Pritchard is joined this week by Becky Corkish, Wayne Lisy, Sam Rennie, Dave Griffiths, Jim Cottier and Darryl Callister

After a meteoric rise in three-wheeled racing in recent years, Manx brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe fulfilled a dream last year as they went on to win not one, but their first two Sidecar races at the Isle of Man TT.So how do you build on such a phenomenal 2024?Well, to get some answers to those questions, Manx Radio recently sat down with the pair to get their thoughts

The 2025 Isle of Man TT Races are imminent and once again Clerk of the TT Course Gary Thompson remains at the forefront of making sure the racing fortnight runs as safely and smoothly as possible.He's now entering his 13th year of overseeing the meeting and looking after all matters relating to the Snaefell Mountain Course.Manx Radio recently spoke with Mr Thompson to discuss in detail the running of the event; his relationship with riders, volunteers, visitors and residents, and what he makes of being in the spotlight for the calls he makes.

In the last episode of Saturday Sport Classified of the 24/25 season, we dive into the stories and discussions from the latest campaign in Manx football, rugby and hockeyRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham, Dave Christian and Ben Cunningham

With TT 2025 fast approaching, we at Manx Radio have recently had the chance to catch up with some of the stars set to grace the Snaefell Mountain Course once again this year.And one of those is the reigning Senior TT champion, Davey Todd - and it's probably not an understatement to say it's been a hectic few months for him.After splitting from FHO Racing, he and fellow TT competitor Peter Hickman have become co-owners of the new 8TEN Racing team which make its TT debut this year.We got the chance to sit down with Todd to find out how he's found setting up a whole new squad as well as understanding he and the team's ambitions for the 2025 racing fortnight

In tonight's programme:It's the final weekend of the 24/25 Manx football season, we preview the finals of both the Hospital Cup and Masters FA CupAnd with just over a week to go until the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races, we at Manx Radio have been catching up with some of the starsTonight's show with Rob Pritchard features Tony Mepham, Davey Todd, Dean Harrison, Peter Hickman and Ryan & Callum Crowe

At the start of April, the plans of former TT winner and regular competitor James Hillier were thrown into uncertainty.Since then, Hillier has secured a Supersport ride with Bournemouth Kawasaki once again for TT 2025 but mystery remained around if he would be able to return to the big bike classes this year.Well... now we have an answer to that -in this extended interview, Hillier explains his latest plans and how hectic preparations have been in recent weeks

With the summer months beginning to roll in, now is the time of year that sees cricket on the Isle of Man start to flourish.With the local league season now underway, there was also a chance for the potential next generation of players to get a flavour of the sport during the recent 2025 Manx Youth Games.And that raised an important question about an ongoing challenge - what can be done to boost youth participation in cricket here?Isle of Man Cricket Association's Cricket Development Officer Greig Wright explores this matter with Manx Radio's Darren Timson

Results, reaction and analysis to the latest football action on the Isle of Man and further afieldPLUS, we get some insight into the Isle of Man athletics team heading to the 2025 Island Games and what the local athletics calendar has in store over the coming weeksRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham and Dave Griffiths

In tonight's programme:The Junior Cup final headlines this weekend's Isle of Man football fixturesWe get some insight into the Isle of Man athletics team heading to this summer's Island GamesThe Manx men's hockey squad is getting ready for the 2025 County Championships this weekendAnd hundreds of youngsters are expected to take part in the 2025 Manx Youth Games this weekendRob Pritchard is joined this week by Tony Mepham, Dave Griffiths, Ben Cunningham and Gareth Lloyd