Seven golds make it a super Sunday
GUERNSEY were left celebrating a magnificent seven thanks to a gold rush on the first day of competition at the Island Games.
Big crowds flocked to Rocquaine Bay for the triathlon and the home fans were not disappointed as Josh Lewis successfully defended the title he won in Gibraltar while Megan Chapple made it an individual double by taking a brilliant women’s gold, which contributed to the Sarnian team topping the podium too.
However, the triathletes were beaten to the first Guernsey gold of the Games by shooter Andy Torode, the island’s most decorated Games competitor.
He won the NPA Police Pistol One open title and joined forces with James Straughan to come out on top of the team event.
Air rifle shooting on artificial grass sounds weird, but for Guernsey air rifle team duo Paul Guillou and Luc Malcic it suited down to the fluffy green ground as they won gold at the Aztech Centre.
Temporarily transformed from its usual state-of-the-art indoor football skills centre, the Aztech poses different challenges from the norm for 10m air rifle shooters, but Guillou and Malcic thrived to win with something to spare from Jersey.
Guillou put the Sarnian pairing in a strong position with a morning score of 601.4 which Malcic was charged to defend with Isle of Man and the Caesareans chasing.
Malcic duly overcame a slow start to score 590.4 from his own 60 shots in the 75min. time limit.
With the gold medal guaranteed Guillou said the venue was fantastic and ‘aesthetically brilliant’, while adding, ‘it is unique in that we are shooting in semi-open air conditions on artificial grass’.
There was a further boost for the Sarnians with the pairing of Andrea Guillou and Amy Woodland taking bronze.
Sarah Roe topped off the day defending her 10,000m title on the Footes Lane track.
Reports and reaction in Monday's Guernsey Press.
