Alderney Schoolgirl Claims Prestigious Inter-Island Golf Title

Fifteen-year-old Alderney golfer Izzy Stokes has cemented her place as one of the Channel Islands' most promising young sporting talents after winning the coveted Hoskins Cup at the annual Inter-Island Open Competition.

Held at Alderney Golf Club at Longis, the competition saw Izzy outperform experienced lady golfers from some of the largest and most prestigious golf clubs in Jersey and Guernsey. Playing off a handicap of seven, she produced a superb performance to claim the title and receive a £250 prize sponsored by Gower Financial Services, alongside her trophies.

Izzy, who joined St Anne's School in Year 10 after moving to Alderney with her family at Easter, has been playing golf since the age of six. Before relocating to the island, she trained for three years under Teesside golf professional Andrew Nicholson and represented Durham County.

Her father, Jon Stokes, Head of Technical Engineering at Alderney Electricity and currently overseeing the redesign of the island's power station, said that while neither he nor Izzy's mother, Sam, are keen golfers, her grandfather played a key role in nurturing her passion for the sport from an early age.

Away from the golf course, Izzy – short for Isabelle – enjoys helping her father work on his race car ahead of Alderney's annual hill-climb event. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue her studies in Guernsey for her A-levels and follow in her father's footsteps by pursuing a career as an electrician.

Alderney Ladies Golf Captain Herma Hays, who organised the event, praised Izzy's achievement.

"Izzy is a stunning and dedicated player with a gift for playing a measured and steady game with a skill way beyond her years," she said. "She has made us so proud and she has a great golfing future ahead."

The prize presentation was made by Joanna Neill of Gower Pensions on behalf of Gower Financial Services.

At Gower, we are proud to support local sporting talent and celebrate the achievements of young people across the Channel Islands. We congratulate Izzy on this remarkable success and wish her every continued success both on and off the golf course.

Photo by David Nash