Rose-Anna Hoey will finally make her NatWest Island Games debut in Jersey after missing the previous competition in Bermuda because she was pregnant.

Hoey, from Ireland, was eligible for the Island Games two years ago, held in Bermuda for the first time, but withdrew at the eleventh hour after learning she was pregnant a few days before her race.

The 33-year-old, who will compete in the half-marathon and half-marathon team event, said she was delighted to get another chance to experience her first international event.

“I was meant to run last time, but I found out about five days before that I was expecting a baby, so I couldn’t take part in a half-marathon in the heat here,” said Hoey, who won the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby in 2013.

“It was definitely a very exciting time for me and I can’t say I was disappointed, although I would have liked to have run.

“There will be some logistical work involved with the little man [her son Matthew], but my parents are stepping up and he will stay with them in Ireland.”

Hoey is hoping for a personal best in Jersey but admits it will be a big ask considering her injury-riddled season.

“It hasn’t been my best preparation, I’ve had two fractures this year and I’m just glad to be back running,” said Hoey, the president of the Mid Atlantic Athletic Club.

“I’ve been running with my team-mates Victoria [Fiddick] and Deon [Breary] and I’m getting stronger. We’re hoping to better the bronze medal the team won last time.

“I’m getting faster by the week and I’m hoping for a personal best, which would be around 1hr 25min. Anything around 1:30 will be good considering the year I’ve had.”

Among the competitors Hoey will face in Jersey will be former Bermuda resident Andrea Banks, who will represent the host island.

“I’m going to go out there and make the most of the experience,” said Hoey, who will compete in the half-marathon on Sunday, June 28. “The competition will be quite stiff, there’s an athlete who used to run here, Andrea Banks, who will be running for Jersey. She was really good when she was here.”

Meanwhilem, eight cyclists will represent Bermuda in Jersey, six in road racing and two in mountain biking.

Female road cyclists Zoenique Williams, Karen Bordage and Gabriella Arnold will contest three events; an individual time-trial, a road race and the criterium. The men’s team will be comprised of Dominique Mahyo, Darren Glasford and Che’quan Richardson.

The off-road competitors will be Sarah Bonnett and Deshi Smith who will participate in a cross-country mountain bike event and mountain bike criterium.

“These athletes have been focusing their training on this important competition for the last several months,” Peter Dunne, the Bermuda Bicycle Association president, said.

“Williams will also be using the event as a final tune-up ahead of competing in the Toronto Pan Am Games next month as Bermuda’s sole cycling representative.”

Mayho has spent the past three months training and racing overseas and is scheduled to return to Bermuda to compete in the Bermuda Road Race Championship on June 21.