Guernsey Press

Heroes’ welcome for Island Games athletes

THERE was a pop concert atmosphere at Guernsey Airport over the weekend as Island Games athletes returned home to applause.

Published
Nikki Trebert with daughter Maicie Trebert. (25229913)

Families and friends had gathered at the airport to give a heroes’ welcome to Team Guernsey and their haul of medals. The team finished fourth in the medals table with 19 golds, 37 silvers and 31 bronzes.

As they emerged through the Arrivals gate in their green and white tracksuits, huge cheers and clapping erupted across the concourse.

Maicie Trebert was waving a poster with ‘welcome home mummy’ for Nikki Trebert, who won three golds and one silver in the pistol shooting.

‘I’ve missed her a lot and I’m really excited to see her again. She won lots of medals and she was in the newspaper.

‘At the next Island Games in Guernsey I’m going to be giving out the medals.’

Mrs Trebert was happy to be back with her family after such a successful Games, and she is looking forward to the next one.

‘I’m already anticipating it’s going to be a lot of work, I’m involved with the organisation of the pistol event so we have quite a lot to do to our facilities, so it’s going to be a busy couple of years, and I’m hoping to compete at the next games and if I do it will be my 10th games and that’s something I would love to achieve.

‘The 2003 Games here were really good and I’m looking forward to welcoming my family of shooters from around the world to Guernsey, to show them what it’s like and what we can offer.’

Sandy Barclay, 11, had made a poster saying ‘well done Guernsey’ for his brother Tom Barclay, who was competing in the judo.

‘I’m so proud of him, he was beaten by the eventual gold medal winner so he did really well.

‘I’ve planned out the perfect day for his first day back in Guernsey – we’re going to go to the Cobo Tea rooms with the dog and then tonight we’re getting Chinese takeaway from the Mayflower.’

Vicky Joyce was waiting for her son Howard, who had been competing in the judo.

‘He’s 18 and it’s his first Island Games and he did really well, in his individual event he just missed out on a semi-final position and in the team event they came fifth overall even though they were down a couple of men.

‘I’m a teacher and we’ve been following the Games in class and the pupils have been so interested in it, they are fascinated with the medals table.’

Lewis Bourgaize, 16, had lots of members of his family waiting for him to emerge through the arrivals gate with his bronze medal for judo, including his grandmothers Miriam Bourgaize and Jean Crabb.

‘We’ve been watching it on Facebook and he sends us videos of the competition, we’re so proud of him.’

‘The family will probably all get together later today, it depends what Lewis wants to do, he had an early start and we heard there was quite a party last night.’

Lewis was delighted to see the turnout from his family and he said Gibraltar was an incredible experience.

‘I was there for eight days and I competed on three days, and then I was supporting the team on the other days.

‘We had a party on Thursday night and another one on Friday, so I’m very tired so we’re probably going to get something to eat and then I’m going to go home and nap.’

‘He deserves it,’ added both grandmothers.