Ynys Môn finished off their Island Games 2023 experience in style as five medals were won, taking the medal total to 18 – a best ever result at an Island Games.
Siblings Iolo and Cari both grabbed gold medals to complete a Hughes double in the 800m athletics events. The men’s 4x100m relay team won silver and broke the Ynys Môn record with it. Congratulations to the athletics team who had a superb meet 11 medals – a record for the team at an Island Games. As part of the celebrations for this, Athletics Co-ordinator Barry Edwards was chosen as the Ynys Môn flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony.
At the shooting, David Tavernor won gold in the English Skeet Individual. He shot 140/150 across five rounds, but was tied with an Isle of Man shooter. Thankfully, it was David who held his nerve and won the shoot out to give the shooting team their first gold medal since Åland in 2009.
For the men’s football team, it proved one game too far in a very busy week. In the Final, they faced a strong Jersey side. Ynys Môn took the lead twice through an own goal and an absolute rocket from Sam Gregson. Jersey’s strength started to show against tired legs and they took a 4-2 lead. A controversial red card for Sam Jones after 55 minutes meant there was no way back and it finished 5-2 to Jersey. A silver medal for Ynys Môn is something that the boys should be incredibly proud of after five games in six days. They should hold their heads high, even after today’s disappointment.
Gwenno Hughes was cruelly denied a second medal of the Games as she crashed out of the Women’s Cycling Town Criterium. Positioned well in 3rd place, she was on the penultimate lap when another rider fell, taking out Gwenno in the process.
The men’s half marathon team had a week-long wait for their event. Running multiple circuits along the St Peter Port seafront, Dion Griffith finished 10th with a PB of 01:12.24. Rob Mansell bagged a PB of 01:18.07. Along with Owen Humphreys, the Ynys Môn team finished 7th in the Team Event.
The golfers finished off their week in even more challenging conditions as the winds picked up and brought rain with it. Jack Carter had a good final round and finished in 8th overall, 5 shots off a bronze medal. Overall the golfers finished 9th out of 18.