FIRST ISLAND GOLD TO FROST

By John Hamon - Sunday, July 1, 2007

Andy Frost celebrates on the podium with his gold medal - the first of the games for the IW. Picture by Laura Holme.

Island Games/Athletics
THE Island was celebrating on Sunday evening when the squad won its first gold medal of the games.
Once again, it was Andy Frost who won the hammer throw with yet another record performance.
With his fourth of six throws, he hurled the hammer 69.51m to win, not only his fifth consecutive title but bettering the best for the fifth time.
"With no disrespect to the opposition, I only came here to break the record," said Frost, 26, from Sandown.
"I knew I was good enough to win the gold but I was motivated by the fact that I want to continue raising my best throws, which I am pleased that I did."
Meanwhile, Twins Joe and Tom Wade were very unlucky not to make the podium in the 3,000m steeplechase. For five-and-a-half laps of the seven, the pair led from the front but the final two laps took their toll and they had to be content with fourth and fifth in a quality field.
"The wind was quite difficult on the back straight but I felt quite strong," said Tom, 18, from Ryde. "The final couple of laps certainly told on us but it was only the third time we have ever run 3,000m so, with that in mind, we have got to be pleased with our performances."
"Give them credit, they were prepared to take on a quality field," said coach Geoff Watkin after the race. "And it almost paid off for them.
"But they have learned a lot from the race and will be far stronger for the experience."
Siobhan Svendsen and Aiya Abe both achieved personal best times in the 1,500m in finishing eighth and ninth in four minutes 51.89 seconds and 4.52.06 respectively.

TENNIS
THE tennis team had mixed results on Sunday when the men's pair were beaten in the first round but the women reached the second round and look forward to going further after a fine victory.
They met Caymen Islands in the first round and it needed a deciding doubles match before the Island got through. Hannah Price came back well from losing the first set to eventually overcome her opponent 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, while Jenny Pakenham-Walsh lost 6-7, 4-6.
However, the young ladies came through in the doubles two sets to one.
The men's two of Quentin Sloper and Jack Giles suffered straight set defeats but are looking to improve on that in the singles.

SHOOTING
TWO shooters who share the same birthday but 40 years apart shot well in their first competition on Sunday.
Tony Elgar, 69, and Matt Reed, 19, shot consistently to finish fifth in the 10m air pistol team event.
Elgar recorded a 508 while Reed came back with 529.

FIRST ISLAND GOLD TO FROST

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