Guernsey Athletics @ NatWest Island Games 2009 - Aland

very much misunderestimated

2009-07-08T06:18:00.002+01:00

After bottling up the commentatorisms all week its time to let them out......."Its clear this team's chances were completely misunderestimated. They have gold medaled and podiumed more frequently then expected and have left the WHA as the most winningest squad"

Fantastic Friday

2009-07-04T05:11:00.004+01:00

We'll start with about the only negative result of the day, the 4x100M boys had a bit of a dodgy final changeover and were disqualified.

The 4x400 girls ran an impressive 4:10 for 4th not bad for a team that (apart from Kylie I think) all have PBs way outside 62 seconds for the 4 flat and an average age of about 17.

Next up, with probably the performance of the championships were the 4x4 boys. We knew the target was the ludicrously ambitious 3:13.6 Commonwealth standard. Hywel and Matt got things off to a fine start with legs of about 50.5 each to get the baton to Tom in the lead - Tom extended it out with a flying leg of 46-ish and the baton was with Dale. One lap remaining-2:27. I think all the stand were setting themselves for disappointment but the boy was flying - a 45 ish, yes forty five ish leg got the boys across the line below the target, 3:12.38 and a games record by 5 seconds.

Mezza's 1500M was a masterclass in front running, splintering the field with 3:49. The increasingly excitable Ingy lost it with "..this is what 4 minute miling looks like...." and Garlando picked up the pieces, and about 6 places in the last 600M, with a well paced bronze in 4:02.

10 minutes later Steve was jogging into the stadium for silver in the half, Ronan 13th.

Expectations were that Turi Malme of Hitra would enter as leading woman but ...is that the figure of Martine we see behind the trees......."Middle aged housewife takes Gold". A justifiably tired Lou in bronze, & team Gold.

Whilst all this was going on Ross and Jonny were toiling away in the Triple, 11th & 12th. Methinks we're going to see a bit more of the boy Hanley.

Thursday Evening - Results Update

2009-07-02T18:19:00.002+01:00

Triple Jump:
7th Caroline Kyle, 10.11m
9th Kristy Grant 9.90m

200m Final:
4th Kylie Robilliard 25.55

100m Final:
6th Glenn Etherington 11.00

400m Final:
1st Tom Druce 47.00
5th Hywel Robinson 50.54

Thursday Morning

2009-07-02T17:37:00.002+01:00

Sarah ran well for 3rd in her heat of the 800m, but her 2:22 was not quite fast enough to make tomorrow's final.

Glenn had a tough 100m semi but just about got through to tonight's final with a swift 11.08.

The two Lees went in heat 1 of the 1500m and cruised through to tomorrow's final, both clocking 4:14 in heat 1.

Tom Druce took advantage of favourable conditions to attack the 400m games record in his semi-final. He blasted through the first 300 and almost held on to achieve his goal, but fell just 4 100ths short, with a big PB of 46.74.

Kylie then made her 3rd final of the week, running 25.63 in her 200m semi.

Track Domination!!!!

2009-07-01T21:31:00.000+01:00

Guernsey emerged victorious in every track event they competed in this evening (how often does that happen!!) . Granted there were only 3 track events and one of them was a heat but if the Guernsey Cheerleaders can be out with their clackers why can't we have a good crow about it.

Prior to the track events started young Shannen was up in the High Jump, difficult stage for someone training as a 400M runner but she was still within 6cm of her PB.

First up on the track was the Dale Garland enhanced 4 x 400M squad in their heats. Dale got the boys off to a great start with an approx 48.5 split, Matt Bailey extended the lead with a 51.5 approx split and then the baton was with young Ross Hanley, Ross has been bouncing around the hotel this week dying to get out there and all that pent up energy propelled him round the lap in 52.1. By the time Nathan got the baton they were well clear of the Cayman quartet. Comfortable victory with the option of bringing in Tom & Hywel for the final. Don't write off the Caymans yet though.

Marts and Lou were simply brilliant in the womens 5000. After ignoring an ambitious couple of opening laps the Marts led duet slipped through the field and hit the front with an impressive couple of 82 second laps in the middle of the race. Lou had the change of pace but ... tear in eye...."Guernsey was the winner". Gold and silver.

Mezza tracked local star Janne Holmen for much of the 5000M , ran a pretty impressive last 500M, and was simply awesome down the back straight Gold & new games record 14:21.

Fantastic Fives!

2009-07-01T18:28:00.003+01:00

Women's 5K result - Lou.... GOLD!, Martine.... SILVER!
Men's Result - Mezza.... GOLD, GAMES RECORD! (14:21), Ronan.... 7th
The 4x4 squad, bolstered by Dale's arrival, cruised through to the final, winning their heat. The women's race will be a straight final.
Tom and Hywell qualified through to the 400m semis, both impressive in this morning's heats.
Glenn and Nathan are through to the 100m semis, both surviving 'loaded' heats.
Kylie's also through to the next stage, but young sprinter Kristy missed out.

2009-07-01T12:24:00.004+01:00

Sarah and Marts in the 1500m final

Druce vs Wade

800m Heat

Kylie dominating the Hurdles

Glen flying to Hurdles gold

A Good Day at the Races

2009-06-30T21:16:00.004+01:00

Morning Session

Kylie was first up this morning in her heat of the 100m Hurdles, racing to an easy victory, half a second quicker than the winner of the other heat - things were looking good for the final in the evening.
The 4x100m squads were up next in their relay heats. Glenn, Nathan, Hywel and Matt produced the goods, with slick changeovers (and pretty fast running) bringing them home first in a fast 42.6. Unfortunately Cayman went faster in heat 2, breaking the games record with 41.8! But, anything can happen in the final...

The Guernsey girls didn't fare so well in their heat, failing to get the baton around safely.

Evening Session

We headed to the track with high hopes of success. After Lou's gold yesterday we had the taste of success and wanted more. First up, Glenn Etherington...

Glenn took to the track like an Island Games pro in his first individual race for his adopted island and tore away from the rest of the field to take gold in the final of the 110m hurdles, in 15.12, beating Jersey's Pete Irving into second. Great start, now for Kylie...

Kylie was hot favourite for gold after her sizzling heat this morning. The pressure was on and she did not disappoint, exploding from the blocks and leading from the gun to record a convincing victory - something like a second and a half - not bad in a sprint event!

Jonny Guille jumped 5.80 in the long jump qualifiers, not far enough to make the final, but fortunately he left the track with a smile after finding out he had passed his second year at uni!

Martine and Sarah stepped up next for the final of the 1500m. After fast heats yesterday, a medal was going to be a tall order for both our girls. A blistering pace was set by the lead group, with 3 vying for the lead, and the others strung out behind. Marts and Sarah worked hard but the pace was too hot, and they had to settle for 4th and 6th in times that would have won medals in previous years.

Now the finale, and a much anticipated clash between our own Tom Druce and Matt Bailey, and Isle of Wight's in-form Joe Wade in the 800m. Wade hit the front, leading the first lap in a blistering 53 seconds, with Tom just behind, but the rest of the field struggling to keep up. Druce and Wade were still together coming around the final bend, then Tom made his move, edging ahead in the final straight, pulling clear enough to celebrate as only Tom can! Another gold, and almost a pb - 1:52.04. Matt was 6th in 1:59, close to his PB, showing he's hit form at just the right time.

(By Lee G)
(PS Check out video clips on youtube. Search for: Guernsey Athetics Aland)

A Monday evening taste of success (eventually)

2009-06-29T21:04:00.004+01:00

(From Ingy)

Despite a bit of a loaded heat Matt Bailey got through to the 800M final, Matt was drawn with Tom (who qualified comfortably) and Lee Taylor, Gibralter's Bronze Medalist from Rhodes but ran a pretty well timed race and his 4th place in 1:59.18 got him through to the the 8 man final. Tom Qualified as heat winner.

Pretty good night of athletics for the Guerns tonight, Leo was up first against pretty good competition in the 400M Hurdles, was the yougnest in the field but still came away with a pretty good 5th - not bad for his first games.

Next up was Kylie, it would be fair to say expectations were high, but local(Aland) lass Hanna Wiss, drew on the support of the crowd and ...sorry in the time it's taken me to write this Steve Dawes has just sat down with 13 Euros worth of Burger an Chips...its put me off my thread a bit, anyway back to the planet..... Kylie got off to a good start but Wiss took it by about 3 Metres.

..still waiting for that Gold....

Next Lee Garlando, games legend and 4 times winner of 3000 sticks.....sadly not this time. Tom Wade (IOW) put in stong mid-race surge which Lee partly followed but the boy Wade has been on pretty good form this season and it wasn't to be. Silver and a double figure count of medals(7 in the chase alone)......for gods sake this starting making sense until he counted 3 more......its now a bakers dozen...or something like that.....quite a few anyway.

...getting late...still waiting for that Gold...

Cue Louise. Soon into the 10,000M it was pretty clear that it was between 5 runners, two Faroese (if that's right) a Western Isles Lass Cambell, Malme (1/2M Gold in Rhodes) and our Lou. After a good steady pace it all kicked off after a Decker/Budd like fall with about 12 laps remaining. Lou and Soerenson(Far) coming out worst and dropping 20 metres or so back. Oleson the other Faroese (I'm sticking with Faroese) in a Cram like way chose the fall (this will be lost on anyone who can't remember british running in the 80's) to break clear.

All sorts of Drama followed. Olesen wilted in the heat over the last 8 laps and what looked like an unassailable 40M lead over a fragmented group, was down to nothing. Louise patiently worked her way back to the group, hit the front with about 4 laps remaining, and sealed a victory, Guernsey's first track gold and a bottle of Bolly from Sir Geoff with a devastating finish.

Steve Dawes - Cover Boy !

2009-06-29T14:10:00.001+01:00

hey Steve - you are all over the media back home.

Well done!

Leo Rice - through to 400m Hurdles Final

2009-06-29T09:32:00.003+01:00

Leo was in heat 1 of 2 and qualified as a fastest loser in a time of 57.11

below is the link to his race...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHqGMBidoqI

up next is the womens 100m semi final with Guernseys Kylie Robilliard competing, Kylie is the contenders for a medal along side Morrison of the Cayman Islands, also in the same semi as Kylie.

Women 1500m Results...

2009-06-28T18:25:00.002+01:00

Martine 4.58 for third place and automatically qualifies as it first 4 places in each heat and next 4 fastest from the two heats.

Sarah finished in 4th place in heat 2, unsure of time at the moment but qualifies for tuesdays final.

Right time to dash back to hotel for food as everyone is finished.

Cheerie

Kyle makes Long Jump final

2009-06-28T18:17:00.003+01:00

Caroline Kyle has qualified for the womens long jump final which is at 7.10pm tomorrow evening. Caroline jumped a personal best of 4.94. Unfortunately Kristy Grant had three no jumps and failed to qualify.

Womens 1500 heats just starting now... go Marts and Sarah, Marts in heat 1, Sarah in heat 2.

Dawes Claims Silver Medal...

2009-06-28T18:01:00.004+01:00

Just finished watching Steve win a well earnt silver medal!

Janne Holmen won in a new games record. Holmen went out fast from the gun for a sole run victory but Steve ran a well paced race in the early stages to catch and pass Jersey athlete Daniel Halkworth. Halksworth tried initially to go with Holmen but paid the price and was caught and passed by Steve at the half way point. Steve then stretched out over the remaining laps to take the silver.

Really please for Steve and you could see what it meant to him as he punched the air as he crossed the line.

Checkout the link below of Steve crossing the line...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JcM4kfkz28

A Mezza Update...

2009-06-28T17:02:00.003+01:00

Hi guys, this update comes from me (mezza aka Lee Merrien) I'm sat in the stand of the athletics stadium (as there is free wifi access) fantastic weather again as we've now come to expect, so far the athletes that have raced....

Kristy Grant & Kylie Robilliard have just raced in the 100m heats, Kristy was up first finishing 5th in her heat which had a bit of confusion involved as there appeared to be a false start but there was no recall, Kristy despite also stumbling ran 12.45. Kylie won her heat comfortably and advanced to semi finals. Checkout for yourself on the link here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5a0VJUw9aI

Also checkout this link to the opening of the athletics program, see if you notice anyone familar!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL9QRrjqaxs

Mens 200m Heats: We had Nathan Stevens and Jacques Ogier running, Nathan finished second in his heat running 22.59 and Jacques was 4th in his heat in a time 23.76, Jacque is next to me and thinks it could be a pb or at least very close. Sorry no video feeds for those yet but will get these up tomorrow if we can.

Anyway the mens 10k final has is just lining up about to start with Steve Dawes running against a field which includes Janne Holmen - ALands Finnish International distance athlete. Also running after this race will be Martine Scholes and Sarah Mercier in the Womens 1500m heats.

All for now, time to watch the race!

2009-06-28T13:18:00.005+01:00

Well everyone here safely bar Hywel, and temperatures are way way above expected!! Clear skies and temps of 30! The place is amazing tho, very pretty and totally different. The roads are how I imagine Guernsey was in the 50s including lots of cars from then and the locals all ride around on 'chopper' style cycles, it looks like a scene from the 'Grease' movie.

Total shame there is no cycling or triathalon as the roads are flat and quiet and there is lots of flat clean water to swim in.

Opening ceremony was survived with no walk outs this time, although it dragged in places there was a bizarre comedian who used some foul language and odd jokes... which was unexpected and a little different.

Athletic competition starts tonight with the first event off at 6pm, will let you know how it all goes! Kylie and Kristy are off first with the 100m heats, Nathan & Jacques in the 200m, Steve Dawes in the 10k and Martine & Sarah in 1500m heats. In the jumps Kristy and Caroline need to achieve 5.30m to reach the finals.

Did you know (#1)...

2009-06-23T21:55:00.003+01:00

Down at the Athletics Stadium you will feel strangely at home despite being in a foreign land. The official athletics announcer will be none other than our very own Paul Ingrouille. Paul takes up the mantle from where Charlie Cottam left off.

So athletes, if you are feeling a little nervous, then let Ingy's calming meanderings settle you into state of pre competeition readiness. Close your eyes and you could almost be back at Footes Lane :-)

Official Logo

2009-06-23T21:45:00.001+01:00

This is the official NatWest Island Games XIII logo. The official website is here.

Are we nearly there yet ?

2009-06-23T14:59:00.003+01:00

Hello athletes and fans.

I've just set this blog up for the team who are no doubt thinking about packing, packing and wondering if they are nearly there yet. As I'm not going this year I'll be looking forward to the posts that are sure to follow. And hopefuly some good pictures.

Someone be sure to bring me back some pickled herrings.

Athletes - enjoy the trip and do your Island proud.
Al.