Eighteen-medal haul makes 2023 Island Games most successful ever for Ynys Môn

Thanks to Ynys Môn Island Games Association for assistance with information and photos

Ynys Môn has achieved its best ever medal tally at an Island Games.

Anglesey picked up 18 medals in Guernsey 2023 – six gold, seven silver and five bronze.

Overall, Môn finished ninth out of 24 competing islands in the final medals table.

Day One – July 9 (1 silver)

The women’s shooting team sparked off Anglesey’s successes as they picked up a fantastic silver medal in the Sport Trap Team event.

Catriona Duffy, Bonny Cunliffe and Nia Rogers finished second and secured Môn’s first medal in shooting since 2009.

Day Two – July 10 (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)

Medal Monday for Ynys Môn!

The athletics team had a brilliant evening meet with three podiums.

Ffion Roberts bagged the island’s first gold of the 2023 Island Games. Her victory, by over a full second, placed her first in the women’s 400 m.

In the men’s shot put, Patrick Harris scooped the silver, a step up from his bronze in Gibraltar 2019.

Also improving on Gibraltar was Zach Price, who bettered his 4th of four years ago to land a brilliant bronze in the 100 m.

Gwenno Hughes celebrated a superb bronze medal in the women’s cycling Time Trial.

Day Three – July 11 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

Another fantastic evening at the athletics stadium for Ynys Môn as three more medals were won.

Iolo Hughes stormed to success in the men’s 1500 m. He won that event at Jersey 2015 and this time round looked even stronger, breaking the Ynys Môn record.

Quickly after this, it was his sister’s turn. Cari came so close to emulating Iolo but was overtaken in the final stretch of the women’s 1500 m to finish second.

Still a great result, especially considering Cari’s run is an Ynys Môn record, and the winner (Catherine Franklin of the IOM) set an Island Games best.

Cari’s time would also have smashed the Island Games record.

Ben Sergeant notched a great bronze medal in the men’s 3000 m steeplechase. He obliterated the Ynys Môn record by 2 minutes 45 seconds – an outstanding achievement!

Day Four – July 12 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

Osian Perrin stormed to an incredible win in the men’s 5,000 m at the athletics stadium, setting an Island Games record with a time of 14:11.85.

Also on the track, Ffion Roberts added to her 400 m gold with a silver in the women’s 200 m. She clocked a PB of 24.54.

Finishing a hugely impressive 4th in the women’s 200 m, 17 year old Eli Jones also bagged a PB of 25.15.

In the shooting, two Môn male competitors claimed a fantastic bronze medal. Frederick Roberts shot 88 out of 100 and David Tavernor picked up 89 of 100 giving a combined total of 177. That was enough to seal third in the English Skeet Team.

Day Five – July 13 (1 gold, 1 bronze)

In sailing, Dominic Breen-Turner gained a silver medal in the ILCA 6 category.

His results along with those of Michael Thorne, Ryan Seddon and Josh Metcalfe meant the Ynys Môn sailing team lifted bronze in the Team Event.

These two successes for Dom made him tied as the most decorated Ynys Môn Island Games competitor of all time with seven medals.

Day Six (3 gold, 2 silver)

Siblings Iolo and Cari both grabbed gold medals to complete a Hughes double in the 800 m athletics events. The men’s 4×100 m relay team won silver and broke the Ynys Môn record.

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 shootout to give the shooting team their first gold medal since Åland in 2009.

Ynys Môn men lost 5-2 to Jersey in the football final, despite leading 2-1 through an own goal and a wonder strike from Sam Gregson.

Anglesey had Sam Jones and Gregson sent off in the second half.

Despite having to settle for silver it had been an amazing week for Môn, who topped their group with three straight wins and beat Bermuda 2-0 in the semis before finding a good Jersey side a bridge too far.

Nonetheless, a magnificent week for Mel McGinness’ men.

It was Ynys Môn men’s sixth Island Games football final, but the fifth they have lost, their only gold medal coming in 1999.

Anglesey also won the one-off Inter-Games football tournament on home territory in 2019.

LIST OF YNYS MÔN MEDAL WINS – 2023 GUERNSEY ISLAND GAMES

GOLD 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

Athletics: Iolo Hughes (1,500 m – men)
Athletics: Iolo Hughes (800 m – men)
Athletics: Ffion Roberts (400 m – women)
Athletics: Osian Perrin (5,000 m – men)
Athletics: Cari Hughes (800 m – women)
Shooting: David Tavernor (English Skeet Individual – open)

SILVER 🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈

Football: Ynys Môn men’s team
Athletics: Cari Hughes (1,500 m – women)
Athletics: Ffion Roberts (200 m – women)
Athletics: 4 x 100 m relay men
Athletics: Patrick Harris (shot put – men)
Shooting: Ynys Môn (Sport Trap Team – women)
Sailing: Dominic Breen-Turner (ILCA 6)

BRONZE 🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉

Athletics: Zachary Price (100 m – men)
Athletics: Ben Sergeant (3000 m steeplechase – men)
Shooting: Ynys Môn (English Skeet Team – Open)
Sailing: Ynys Môn (Sailing Team Event)
Cycling: Gwenno Hughes (Women’s Individual Time Trial)

OTHER SPORTS ENTERED BUT FAILED TO MEDAL
Badminton, Basketball, Golf, Indoor Bowls, Swimming, Triathlon