From triumph to tragedy

First, there were celebrations on Saturday when Guernsey beat Jersey in the Women’s Muratti for the first time in 16 years.

The women won 2-0 at Jersey’s Springfield in an unexpected victory which head coach Anna Gauvain described as ‘amazing and a bit emotional’.

However, that was followed by disappointment for the Guernsey men’s team, who suffered a fifth consecutive defeat to Jersey, losing 3-2 after extra time, although co-coach Ryan-Zico Black said they gave it their ‘best shot’ and went ‘down swinging.’

But, unfortunately, the abiding memory of the weekend of local sport, and for the very worst of reasons, came from the basketball inter-insulars, also held in Jersey.

The senior men’s match had to be abandoned in the second half when tragedy struck. Jersey player Guillaume Hoareau is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest on the court at Fort Regent and died shortly afterwards in hospital.

The Jersey Basketball Association said in a statement that he had been ‘an inspiration and mentor’ to players, while the Guernsey association said the incident had ‘shocked the whole of the basketball community’.

Our thoughts are with Mr Hoareau's family and friends at this sad time.