Jon Beard Hails Team’s Success In Orkney
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Jon Beard, the Bermuda Island Games Association chairman, has praised the island’s athletes for their medal-winning performances and positive presence at the International Island Games in Orkney, Scotland, last week.
Bermuda, which sent a delegation of more than 60 athletes, secured five medals across athletics, football, golf, and squash, finishing fourteenth overall in the medal standings.
The men’s under-23 and women’s national football teams won gold, Taylor Carrick claimed silver in the squash men’s singles, Jake Brislane secured silver in the 5,000 metres and Sienna Mosquera took bronze in the women’s golf.
But for Beard, the value of Bermuda’s participation extended far beyond the medal count.
“The medal count wasn’t massive – but without high medal count athletes [swimming, gymnastics and a full athletics team] that was never going to be on the cards,” Beard told Bernews.
“Of course, it’s great to win medals – but these Games are about team building, community building and allowing athletes to compete at a level where they can be competitive. They soon know if this is something they can build on – or they know they still have work to do.”
Beard highlighted the way Bermuda’s athletes immersed themselves in the local community, winning support and admiration from the people of Orkney – often more so than teams from other islands.
“In unprecedented warm weather in Orkney, Team Bermuda shone in both performances and character,” he said.
“As an example – the men’s football team playing cricket in the streets of Kirkwall, and then a five-a-side football competition with a group of local youngsters endeared them to the Orkney group – and ensured a vocal cheering section for every game.”
He also praised the unity and mutual support shown across Bermuda’s teams.
“To see the men’s and women’s football teams supporting each other at games with chants and songs was amazing,” Beard said.
“As was the effort made by the other sports to support those teams.”
Beard offered thanks to everyone involved in Bermuda’s participation and to the host island.
“A very big thank you to the athletes, administrators and supporters of Team Bermuda at the Island Games,” Beard added.
“It was a massive multi-sport competition held in just one week and involving 2,000 athletes – so a big thank you to the organisers of Orkney for all the hard work they put in for a great Games.”
Bermuda’s 2025 Island Games medalists:
