Title winning efforts from Lauren Thérin in the field, Jo Gorrod on the track, Daniel Halksworth in the pool and our ladies team on the golf course mean the race to top the table will go right down the wire with this evening’s triathlon.
Jersey, with 24 titles, hold top spot by just one gold from the Faroes, but late unconfirmed results in archery and shooting cloud the issue considerably.
That could swing either way, particularly with some islands wanting some pistol results scratched because of lack of competitors.
Gotland and Rhodes are also both in with an extremely loud shout, being just two and six golds adrift respectively, and Guernsey are also putting in a storming finish on the athletics track.
Jersey were thrillingly kept in the hunt with two athletics titles at Kalipatira last night, Lauren Thérin smashing Linda Lilgeroos 1993 discus record of 43.40 and also matching the Alander’s feat of winning gold in discus, shot and javelin.
Jo Gorrod was again a winner in the 10,000 metres, finishing well ahead of the field after a solo front run in the final third of the race, while swimmer Daniel Halksworth bid farewell to the pool (he is going to concentrate on triathlon in future) in style with a gold in the 200m breast-stroke.
It was equally tight in the golfing furnace of Afandou, with the Jersey quartet of Olivia Jordan-Higgins, Alex Mollin, Gloria Paradiso and Diane Carter squeezing home in the team event by just one stroke.
And nineteen-year-old Jordan Higgins was only denied gold in the fifth hole of a play-off for individual gold.
For all its troubles and conflicts the sport in Rhodes have been of a remarkably high standard and even if Jersey are toppled in the final furlong, no team will be leaving with more medals overall.
A brilliant performance so far – just one more push required!.
