Sarnian squad work hard to keep medals at home

TEAM manager Phil Hunkin last night hailed the squad that defied the odds to strike gold, silver and bronze. Gold went to debut pair Dawn Morgan and Kay Chivers in the women's doubles with a superb ll-7, ll-8, ll-7 over Jersey's Jennifer Anderson and Kay Lefebvre - much to the delight of the home fans.

Morgan, 39 and a bronze medal winner two years ago, still displays a fierce competitive spirit. But she had to settle for silver, finding herself up against l8-year-old Isle of Wight star Lucy Pointer, who ran out a l4-l6, ll-8, ll-8, 8-ll, ll-7, ll-4 winner.

Guernsey also picked up five bronze medals, including the team event, and Hunkin afterwards insisted: 'It's been our best ever Island Games by some distance and I'm very proud of the squad.

'They've all worked very hard at their game and fitness levels since the season ended at the beginning of May and it's certainly paid off, because when it came to the medals, we were bang in the picture.

'Dawn and Kay produced a tremendous effort to clinch gold in the doubles at the first time of asking, while Dawn gave it her best shot after going back to the table only to run out of gas.

'But it was an excellent team performance from all concerned and Guernsey can be rightly proud of their efforts to fly the flag with some style.'

But once again the Isle of Wight's Carl Prean produced a master class with a fifth successive men's singles gold, a fourth in a row in the men's doubles, a fifth in the mixed doubles and of course a similar award in the team event.

The three-time former English national champion is still, at 35, in a different class and warns : 'I love playing the Island Games and I can't see myself packing it in just as long as I retain my enthusiasm and preparation when it comes to the big events.'