The Isle of Man tennis team for this June’s NatWest Island Games in Gotland has been announced.

It includes 40-year-old Karen Faragher, who will be competing in the Games for a 14th time.

Tennis was first introduced for the 1991 Games in Aland, Finland when Karen was one of the youngest members of the entire Manx team at 14.

Although the sport was not included in the 2005 Games in the Shetland Islands, Karen did compete as she was a member of the women’s football team that missed out on the bronze medal on goal difference to Bermuda.

She is undoubtedly the most prolific Manx female in the history of the Games since its inception here in the Isle of Man in 1985.

Joining Karen in the team will be the same four women who also played in Jersey two years ago: Laura Feely, Katie Harris, Elena Snidal and Hannah Snidal, along with Sean Drewry, Marc Chinn, Ryan Chinn and James Buxton.

The IoM tennis team manager for the fourth time is Daphne Snidal.

There are no Games newcomers in the team, although it will be Sean Drewry’s first time in the tennis team. He played table tennis in Jersey.

Karen has quit singles now in the Games as a concession to age and did two doubles competitions last time, getting silver in the mixed with Bruce Wagstaff and winning gold with Laura Feely in the women’s.

She is playing mixed with Marc Chinn in Gotland. The last time they played together in the Island Games they took silver in the mixed in Bermuda in an all-Isle of Man final against Billy Harris and Laura Feely.

The Gotland-bound team is one of considerable experience. It will be James Buxton’s sixth Games, having made his debut in the second home event in 2001.