Eight new caps as Island Games swimming team named

Eight new caps feature in the 21-strong swim team who will represent the hosts at the Guernsey 2023 NatWest International Island Games.

Joshua Dunning is among the eight new caps named in Guernsey's Island Games swimming squad. (Picture by Peter Frankland)

After a final push to achieve qualifying times by the new year, 10 men and 11 women have made the cut for the big occasion this July.

Among them are all eight of the swimmers that represented the island at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

But the team, which was decided by the Guernsey Amateur Swimming Association in conjunction with both domestic clubs, also includes several developing prospects who are new to the Games entirely.

‘The 2023 team is very strong, and comparing their current times from the results of the 2019 Games, we are in a good position to make most of the finals and have a good chance of collecting several medals across the board,’ Gasa president Chris Butt said.

‘We know that those gaining selection will focus 110% on their training in the lead up to the Games and, based on the results from past Games, will pull out all the stops to improve on their personal best times.

‘The team is made up of 13 seasoned swimmers who have competed in previous Games, including eight who competed at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. There are eight new caps making their debut.’

All eight of Guernsey's swimmers from last summer's Commonwealth Games have been selected for the home Island Games. (Picture by Tony Curr)

Owain Edwards, Luke Le Cras and Joshua Dunning are the men debuting, while Jemima Green, Hannah Jones, Delphine Riley, Maddy Russell and Hannah Kennedy complete a women’s line-up full of newcomers to the Games.

Butt described the competition as ‘highly positively-charged each day’. There are heats in the morning and finals in the evening.

‘The finals in the evening will end each day with relay events which are a huge crowd pleaser, and we know from the relay results of previous Games that our Guernsey teams will pull out all the stops and will never disappoint.

‘With the support of a home crowd on this occasion, we anticipate an exciting competition.’

Full squad:

Men: Charlie-Joe Hallett, Ronny Hallett, Sam Lowe, Ross Yeates, Tom Hollingsworth, Jonny Beck, Tom Teasdale, Owain Edwards, Luke Le Cras, Joshua Dunning.

Women: Laura Le Cras, Orla Rabey, Ailish Rabey, Oriana Wheeler, Tatiana Tostevin, Molly Staples, Jemima Green, Hannah Jones, Delphine Riley, Maddy Russell, Hannah Kennedy.