It was a stunning performance, not least because the only category Jersey lost – comprehensively – was the senior men’s on Saturday, when they went down 120-76.
But take out of that equation Guernsey’s own ‘super athlete’, Dale Garland, who took part in ten events (winning most of them) before also competing in both relays, and the scores would have been much closer.
‘But we had our own equivalent,’ said coach, Roy McCarthy.
‘Lauren Thérin was inspirational.
Although she took part in her specialist events – the throws – she was prepared to turn her hand to anything, from long jump to the sprints.
‘It’s a long time since the senior women won their trophy, and they fought from top to bottom to do so.’ The only senior meeting record to fall went to Jersey’s Island Games gold medallist, Jo McGarry.
Having already claimed the 3,000 honours in a race in which Lousie Perrio made a fine track debut for GIAAC, McGarry stripped 6.9 sec off the 1,500m mark held by Caroline Wickham for nine years.
McGarry stopped the clock at 4 min 54.9 sec.
But it wasn’t just the senior women who fought for points and for each other.
Gemma Dawkins, for example, won the 100m under-15 category with a splint on her arm on Saturday and then took part at under-17 level, again in the sprints, yesterday afternoon.
‘It was rollercoaster time,’ said Jersey’s athletics development officer, Andrew Winnie.
‘Both islands are so close, and on another day it could have been Guernsey who’d win.
And the overall reason why we won wasn’t because of the individuals, it was because of all of those athletes who were picking up seconds and thirds.
‘Having said that, Dale is something special.
That’s why he’s captain of our Channel Islands athletics team.’ Meanwhile Rob Bastiste, elected president of the Guernsey Islands Athletics Club only on Wednesday night, spoke highly of the level of commitment from both sides, acknowledging the contribution made by the unsung heroes who might not win, but always pick up points.
He said: ‘But Dale and Lauren are inspirational athletes.
Both made a difference to their teams’ performances.’ Results: Jersey 607 pts, Guernsey 581.
Senior men: Jersey 76, Guernsey 120.
Senior women: Jersey 97, Guernsey 91.
Under-15 boys: Jersey 75, Guernsey 64.
Under-15 girls: Jersey 63, Guernsey 54.
Jersey 63.
Under-17 men: Jersey 91, Guernsey 77.
Under-17 women: Jersey 78, Guernsey 71.
Under-13 boys: Jersey 65, Guernsey 52.
Under-13 girls: Jersey 62.
Guernsey 52.
In the under-11 age group, which does not count towards the title, Jersey lost 52-50 to Guernsey.
