Sport
Gef’s Weekend Sports Preview
The mixed hockey season starts with games across the island on Saturday.
Although we maybe in the midst of a heatwave, one of winter sports staples’ new campaign begins this weekend.
The mixed hockey season starts with games across the island on Saturday.
There’s fixtures scheduled for QEII, NSC, Ramsey Grammar School, Castle Rushen School and King William’s College, with the first games pushing back at 11.05am and continuing throughout the afternoon.
Another winter regular, football continues this week with games in all four men’s senior leagues.
Matches kicks off at 2.30pm, aside from the Premier League clash St Mary’s and Rushen United which begins at the slightly earlier time of 1.45pm.
That game gets under way 45 minutes earlier than usual, with FC Isle of Man in action at the Bowl that evening.
The Ravens face Prestwich Heys at 6pm in the North West Counties Premier Division. Paul Jones’s side currently sit ninth just outside the league’s play-off places.
The fledgling rugby season also continues on Saturday, with Douglas in action at Kirby Lonsdale in Regional Two North West.
The Manx side narrowly lost to Waterloo in their opening game of the season last weekend.
For fans of all things two wheels, there’s plenty of cycling and motorcycling action this weekend.
In the former, the Isle of Man Criterium Championships take place at Jurby Airfield on Sunday from 10am. Just over the wall there’s pit bikes scheduled for the JCK kart track on the same day.
If motorsport is more your thing the latest British Enduro Championship round takes place. The field of 100 begin their respective campaigns with a ceremonial start in Ramsey at 10am on Saturday morning before undertaking tests in Ohio and Ballaugh plantations.
Further tests will follow at Ballagaraghyn in the afternoon, before more action over similar stages the following day.
Finally, the inaugural Isle of Man Pickelball Festival take place at the NSC this weekend. Pickelball is the fastest growing racket sport in the USA and England and is a mix of tennis, table tennis and badminton.
The action, across eight courts, begins at 8.30am on Saturday morning.
