Jersey born in 1963, Ian Coombs-Goodfellow’s passion is badminton – and so is his family’s. Between him, his wife Kerry and his brother in-law Phil Duffin, they have notched up an impressive 35 Island Games’ medals!
Now his daughter Jade is doing her best to follow in her father’s footsteps, having played in her first Island Games in Aland last year. Together with her brother Brett and young sister Mia, the whole family hope to see the Island Games in Jersey in 2015.
Ian’s involvement in the games has been significant and valued. He has competed in the inaugural Island Games in the Isle of Man, as well as the subsequent 8 games, and has won 21 medals, securing at least two medals at each games. In addition, he was selected as the flag bearer for the Jersey team in the 2007 games, and was awarded the JEP Bill Custard Memorial Trophy for outstanding sportsmanship following the 1999 Gotland Games.
Even after retirement from international badminton in 2002, following his participation in the Manchester Commonwealth Games, his passion for the sport and the games continued. He has been the Badminton Team manager for a further two Island Games – and now coaches the island’s top juniors, including his eldest daughter Jade and son Brett.
His wife Kerry has played in the 1999 Gotland, 2001 Isle of Man and 2005 Shetland Games winning an impressive 10 medals, six of them being Gold. And with talent clearly in the genes, her brother, Phil Duffin, has played and won medals in the 1995 Gibraltar Island Games and the1999 Gotland Games. In fact, Ian, Kerry and Phil played together in 1999 and won Team Gold!
Then in Aland last summer, Jade made her Island Games debut when she was selected to play for Jersey, with her father Ian as Team Manager. She notes: “When I was growing up, I always remember the Jersey Island Games in 1997,and my brother Brett and I watching Dad carry the flag into the opening ceremony. I was only 5 years old, but can recall it being something special.
“As keen badminton players ourselves, having won several junior island titles, both my brother and I have always hoped that one day we might play at such a prestigious competition. So, when I was selected for the 2009 games, I was absolutely delighted. The whole experience was fantastic. As well as playing the sport I love at a high standard, I met so many different people and made some great friends.
For this family, it is clear that the Island Games is part of their lives and will continue to be so for many years. “The idea of Jersey hosting the 2015 games is an exciting one,“ comments Ian. ”Jersey as an island takes the games very seriously and the whole community gets right behind it. That, coupled with the support of the Island Games Association of Jersey (IGAJ), has meant that the island’s sportspeople have always been able to compete in the games wherever they are held. The organisation of the IGAJ is superb and I am always appreciative of the time and effort that so many people put in to make everything run so smoothly. They, and indeed the people of Jersey, did an outstanding job when the island hosted the games back in 1997 and I was very proud to be part of, and lead, the team at the opening ceremony. I do hope that we have the opportunity to host the games in 2015 and implore everyone to vote for us.”