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Ready, set...ouch! Dramatic gold for Jersey swimmer – Day 2 of the Island Games

Ready, set...ouch! Dramatic gold for Jersey swimmer – Day 2 of the Island Games

Tuesday 11 July 2023

Ready, set...ouch! Dramatic gold for Jersey swimmer – Day 2 of the Island Games

Tuesday 11 July 2023


A Jersey swimmer managed win a gold medal in the 50m backstroke but had to wait for the last race of the day to compete after his earlier attempt was foiled by the starting block falling on his head.

Here's a round-up of all the action from Day 2 of the Island Games 2023 in Guernsey...

Swimming

Jersey's Robbie Jones secured a gold in men’s 50m backstroke in dramatic circumstances.

Jones originally lined up for his 50m backstroke race much earlier in the evening than when it was finally swum but, just as the swimmers were about to take off, the starting block fell on to his head.

Oblivious to the issue, the other competitors continued with the race while the officials tried to stop them. The Jerseyman was clearly shaken and the race was suspended. After agreeing the race would be restarted, Jones gathered his composure to claim gold.

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Pictured: The women’s 4 x 50m swimming relay team. (David Ferguson)

Meanwhile, Isaac Dodds scooped gold in men’s 200m butterfly and was the only finalist to swim in under two minutes. He also picked up gold in the 200m individual medley.

Gemma Atherley got gold in the women’s 200m freestyle. She also picked up a silver in the 100m butterfly, with Games débutante Sienna Stephens getting bronze in the same race, while the two also won bronze in the 4 x 50m freestyle medley relay with other Games first-timers, Megan Hansford and Elizabeth Powell, in a new Jersey record time of 1:47.31.

The first medal of the night for Jersey, though, went to Clara Ginnis in the second race of the evening, winning silver in the 400m individual medley.

Dodds and Jones also combined with George Storey and Ollie Brehaut for a silver in the 4x50m medley before Jones eventually got his gold in the 50m backstroke in a time of 26.26.

Cycling

Flo Thomas claimed silver in the time trial – but Jersey were denied a team bronze on a technicality.

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Pictured: Jersey's Flo Thomas who claimed cycling silver in the time trial. (Rob Currie)

This was because only four teams raced, meaning that only gold and silver medals were handed out. 

Tennis

It was gold medal success for both Jersey's men and women.

Stuart Parker and Scott Weaver held their nerve in the deciding doubles against Menorca to win 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5). 

Parker said the pair were "ecstatic" about the men's team result. 

"We put in a great effort and to get it is a bit of relief as well. Obviously we're overjoyed – we were hoping to get the gold.

"I think the competition was tough, it's never easy when you're expected to win as well.

"I think we all as a team felt a bit of pressure so to come through those matches the way we did and then in the final to win in the deciding tie break I think it was it was really good for us."

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Pictured: Antonija 'Toni' Sokic and Natasha 'Tash' Forrest in doubles action on their way to winning team gold. (David Ferguson)

Tash Forrest and Toni Sokic triumphed in their doubles match, beating Gotland 2-1 for the gold. Also on the golden women's team were Emily Frost, Eva Hurst and Sonia Smith.

Team gold medallist Sonia Smith told Express: "The girls played brilliantly, but actually, all of us, you know, some matches were more important than others. Everyone played a match, and all five of us and everyone got a win. So that's really amazing for us.

"We've got individual events now, So three of the girls are playing in the individual singles, and then we've got mixed doubles, and then 3 of us are playing in mixed doubles and one pair in the ladies doubles.

"They're the ones that won the final together today, so they hopefully have got quite a good chance.

"I definitely believe in this team."

Athletics

Lucy Woodward’s dream Games continues as she backed up Sunday’s triple jump gold with a bronze in the javelin.

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Pictured: Evan Campbell won bronze in men’s shot put final. (Rob Currie)

Over in the shot circle, decathlete Evan Campbell doubled his bronze medal tally, adding to his high jump third place.

Shooting

In shooting, Spencer Barr and Ben Videgrain were top NPA service pistol B team event.

Barr finished with 100, while Videgrain shot 103 for a 203 total, securing the pair gold.

Archery

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Pictured: A row of archers collecting their arrows. (David Ferguson)

Lucy O’Sullivan stormed to individual gold in the women’s 1440 compound singles event, and also took the team gold alongside Angela Perrett and teenager Hannah Bridle.

Meanwhile, Jersey’s Mollie Perrett won the women’s recurve bronze on her Island Games debut. Perrett, Paula Hindley and Sumer Glendewar also claimed team bronze.

Bowls

The men’s bowls trio of Luke Le Sueur, Cyril Renouf and Michael Rive have secured bronze for Jersey – after beating the Falkland Islands ladies in their final group match.

In Group A,Jersey’s ladies trio also closed out with a win – beating Ynes Môn 21-7. However, they lost their other three games to finish the group in fourth place out of five.

Pictured top: Jersey's Island Games swimming squad. (Jon Guegan)

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