Adkins seizes chance for golden moments

PAUL ADKINS kept a cool head when a weakened field presented him with a rare opportunity to collect more medals. Others' training commitments and illness undoubtedly helped the 24-year-old, but he still had work to do to see off the likes of Commonwealth Games competitor Ian Hubert to claim two golds.

Adkins is now the Channel Islands 50m butterfly and breaststroke champion.

'I think the last time I was on the podium was when I was still at university - it must have been at the Island Games in 1999,' he said.

'These are my first gold medals and I am now champion, so I suppose it ranks higher in my career,' said the swimmer, who has competed since he was 12.

'Island Games is about my standard. I wouldn't class myself as a Commonwealth Games swimmer.'

His titles came over three long days during which Guernsey competitors took no fewer than 17 of titles and broke a host of records.

Commonwealth swimmers Jonathon Le Noury and Jeremy Osborne travelled despite doubts about their fitness and were rewarded with a host of titles.

Le Noury, in heavy training and recovering from a virus, won the 200m and 400m freestyle as well as the 50m and 100m backstroke.

Osborne claimed five golds in his age group and the CI title in the 200m individual medley.

The best performance among the women came from Barracudas' Robyn Le Friec, who won championship trophies in the 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

Rachael Le Page won the 100m individual medley with the Guernsey Swimming Club's Christine Hume taking the 100m breaststroke.

The juniors again put in promising record-breaking performances as they collected points from a series of events.

Joshua Lewis finished 500 points ahead of his nearest rival in the age 12 category, setting an amazing eight championship records.

Luke Winberg and Lotte Parfit were equally dominant in their age 10 categories, setting five and four records respectively.

In the age 11 category, Barracudas dominated the boys' section, taking the first five places overall.

Dave Hall took the title and second-placed Luke Belton set a new age group record in the 50m breaststroke.