Jersey maintained pole position in the medals table but needed a flurry of golds in gymnastics and swimming to do so, as Guernsey served notice of their intention to push and eventually overtake Jersey at the death.Keeping their Sarnian hosts at bay – Jersey led by 25 golds to 20 at the end of play – were Island Games stalwart Ben Frith with two golds in the gym, swimmers Simon Le Couilliard, Rosie Barrett and the men’s 4x100m medley relay quartet.
Le Couilliard and the relay team threw in new record times for good measure.There were also some brilliant performances not rewarded with gold as the cycling team of Chris Spence, David Jardine, Sam Firby, Danny Le Marquand and Alistair Cann excelled to strike team silver in an extraordinary road race won by the Isle of Man, young Matthew Maletroit’s decision to hump home a pommel horse to train on gained him a gym silver, while there was a similar reward for archers Rich Robinson and Damien Le Gresley in the new head-to-head competition.The pistol and small-bore shooters are finding it harder to strike gold than in previous games – and that might need to change if Jersey is to keep top spot – but they will be bringing back a big bag full of silver and bronze.The wheel of fortune is turning on other sports once considered ‘bankers’ for gold medals, including badminton, who are fielding a far less experienced side than in previous games.The possibility of top spot in the medals table may very well end up hanging on the results of the last few events, including the town cycling criterium.
