Jersey’s reigning Island Games gold medallists Paul Clements and Mellissa Messervy led their respective sections from start to finish and look in excellent form.
The start time was the same as it will be in Guernsey, 5.30 pm, and the 1,250m swim, 27 km bike ride and 7 km run course was designed to reflect the type of course to be experienced in Guernsey, with a sea-swim, relatively flat bike course and a run which combined road and footpaths.The Jersey squad were in Island Games team uniforms sponsored by Moore Stephens (Chartered Accountants).Starting from Longbeach car park Clements dominated the race from the off and exited the water over two minutes ahead.
A two-lap bike course around the east of the Island proved technical, with Clements and Tim Rogers providing the best splits.
Andy Kemp and Kevin Mahony also showed their strength on the bike section.
Both Beccy Roberts and Sam Kemp narrowed the gap on Natasha Abels who had left the water in second place to Messervy.
Messervy looked comfortable on the bike, increasing her lead over the women and continuing to keep up with the leading men.The flat two lap run featured some impressive efforts from Rogers, Phil Ahier and Norma Illing.
Clements’s lead proved too great for Rogers and he hammered home in 1 hr 23 min 56 sec with Rogers clocking 1.28.10.Messervy increased her lead on the run to come home fourth overall with Beccy Roberts once again proving her abilities in the run section coming home in a time of 1:40:14.The squad clearly learned lessons in terms of nutrition, hydration and course management, which they hope will stand them in good stead for the Games Triathlon on Sunday, 29 June.Island Games manager Gary Jones said: ‘We have put a significant amount of effort in trying to ensure that we have prepared for the Games the best we can.
The squad were tired this weekend following an intensive 3-week training programme with New Zealand Olympic coach Graham Park.
Hopefully, the efforts we have put in will lead to all the squad putting in great performances on the day of the race.’Jersey TC officials thanked marshals, timekeepers and the parishes of Grouville and St Martin for their help.
