Leg injury on opening day ends Shona's hopes in Island Games
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Shona Mackay's involvement in the NatWest International Island Games ended in heartbreak after a leg injury sidelined her on the opening day.
The Caithness women's badminton number one was playing for her native Shetland at the games in Guernsey when she fell awkwardly in the final group match against the Faroes.
The 35-year-old lay in agony before being treated by paramedics and taken to hospital where her leg was immobilised.
She was released later the same day and was able to return to the team camp.
Shona was attending her fifth Island Games, accompanied by her husband Mark, who was part of Shetland's coaching team, and their two daughters.
The team tourney had begun promisingly for Shetland as they defeated the Western Isles 5-0 and neighbours Orkney 4-1. Shona, who had undergone a punishing fitness regime to prepare for the event, won both her matches.
She secured a 21-9, 21-16 win over Orla McGuire in their whitewash of the Western Isles before defeating up-and-coming Orkney teenager Shannon Leslie 21-17, 21-14.
She was in the first set of her match in Shetland's early-evening final round-robin match against the Faroes at the purpose-built badminton arena in St Peter Port when her injury struck.
She was at the time trailing 18-12 to Miriam Grotinum, who went on to take a bronze medal in the women's singles.
Shetland ended up going down 5-0 to finish second in the group.
The Faroes went on to defeat defending champions Greenland 3-1 in the final, while Shetland finished eighth overall.
Shona won a silver medal with her dad Gordon Keith in the 2015 Island Games in Jersey.
