MIXED doubles pairing Chris Cotillard and Kim Ashton powered to gold on the final day of badminton competition – taking the title from Guernsey rivals Kevin Le Moigne and Gayle Lloyd in a nail-biting three set thriller.
The duo fought hard for the first set, winning it 21-15 but, despite roaring ahead, were caught out 19-21 in the second. The decider looked like it could go either way, but the Jersey duo showed strength and courage to keep their heads for a 21-16 win.
Cotillard said: ‘I don’t think we played as well as we did earlier in the week – I think we were a bit nervous actually. They were playing really well but we know them well and we know how they play. It was a tough match. But it’s a great way to finish the week.
I always thought we had a good chance to win the mixed doubles so I’m really glad we got through.’
Fellow team member Gavin Carter, who helped coach the pair from the sidelines, said that Cotillard and Ashton did well to hold their nerve.
He said: ‘I think the guys played really well – they were pretty nervous at the start, and the Guernsey guys are used to the nerves. It was always going to be a tight match.
‘In the first set, Le Moigne was hitting a lot of winners, so we had to try and bring their girl into it. We tried to get more net shots into the game, and they played really well to control it. You’ve got to be really patient in the mixed doubles, but the guys played well, and they deserved it.’
