Women's sport comes to the fore

We lived through Heather Watson’s success at Wimbledon, riding an emotional rollercoaster into the second week of a grand slam for the first time.

The success of the England women’s football team in winning the Euros, in such stylish and then dramatic fashion too, has captivated media interest and dominated this week’s headlines.

Locally the women’s Muratti returned after six years as Guernsey women's football gets back on its feet, and is attracting younger players.

And now we have cause for celebration with Lucy Beere’s success on the lawn bowls rinks in Royal Leamington Spa. An unexpected silver medal, which was so nearly a gold, has put a real spring in the step of the island team and its supporters, both in Birmingham and back in Guernsey.

Bringing a 28-year medal drought to an end is no mean feat. Lucy’s pluck and skill demonstrated in the final, with no coach giving constant advice, nor much of a fan base compared to her Australian opponent, and her grace in her post-match interviews, all reflected well on Guernsey and propelled us into the national spotlight. The Games have also brought us plenty of personal bests and strong performances.

It’s genuine cause for celebration – and an opportunity again for sport to use these moments to look to build female participation more widely.