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It’s been Guernsey’s most successful time in the pool at an Island Games this year with records being broken right up to the end of the competition.
Laura Le Cras, Alisih Rabey, Orla Rabey, and Tatiana Tostevin won gold in the 4x100 medley relay and broke the Island Games record by finishing the race in 4:14.30.
The girls shaved just under three quarter of a second off the previous record, set by the Isle of Man in Jersey, 2015.
Orla Rabey also broke the Guernsey record in the 200m butterfly with a time of 2:16.26 which completed a trio of golds for her in individual butterfly races.
But the tone was set on the first day in the pool on Monday with local athletes passing their overall medal haul earned in Gibraltar 2019 after just a day.
Jersey came out top in the swimming overall with 15 golds, 12 silvers, and 12 bronzes. Guernsey is right behind, however, with 10 golds, 12 silvers and 10 bronzes.
Pictured: Sarnia Cherie played 10 times at the Beau Sejour pool. Credit: David Ferguson.
Amongst the additional medals won on the final day was a gold for Guernsey’s Ronny Hallett in the men’s 200m breaststroke, totting up to an enviable personal tally of 2 golds, three silvers and three bronzes.
Le Cras won bronze in the women’s 100m medley, Tostevin silver in the 50m backstroke, and Tom Hollingsworth also a silver in the men’s 100m backstroke – his final medal before hanging up his cap and goggles for good.
Naomi Wakeford, Head Coach of the Guernsey Swimming Club, said winning medals and breaking records will never get boring.
“It's been excellent. It's been really, really good and excellent racing, incredibly close and very friendly.”
She said all Island Games are different but there was something special about Guernsey 2023 at the pool.
“This has been very good, and a lot of the other coaches said this is a really good atmosphere and one of the best they've been to.”
Wakeford was unable to pick out a top moment or race but couldn’t ignore the efforts of the women’s relay team.
“It would be very difficult to just pinpoint one, but I mean, the girls relay team, they broke records, so that’s great.”
All swimmers headed out for a meal after the day’s events to celebrate the end of the competition and all the achievements.
Pictured (top): Laura Le Cras preparing to leap into the water. Credit: David Ferguson.
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