What a team! What a start!

The Half Marathon runners got the Isle of Man’s 2011 Island Games campaign off to an exceptional start this morning. All five produced outstanding performances to collectively win one gold medal and two silvers. Kevin Loundes well and truly made up for his disappointment in Aland two years ago with the individual silver medal, and he was also part of the silver medal winning men’s team along with Ed Gumbley and Martin Malone. Hannah Howard and Gail Griffiths won the team gold medal in the women’s race. For the team to have won three medals already in the first event is a massive boost for the whole team and takes a lot of the pressure off. Ten more needed to beat our total medal haul from 2009!

Conditions were good during the race, with a sea mist enveloping much of the course in the early part of the race keeping the temperature down. The sun did break though during the race but most of the competitors coped well. The course was tough, with lots of ups and downs and several significant hills, but times were generally only a minute or two down on pb territory. It was the sort of course for which you need to be really fit and well prepared, which is exactly what all the Isle of Man runners were.

At the start of the race Kevin was in a leading group of four along with Guernsey’s Lee Merrien and Steve Dawes, and Sean Trott of Bermuda, while Ed and Martin were also in a group of runners in around tenth place. Hannah was sixth and Gail ninth at this stage in a closely contested women’s race behind the front three who had made an early break. By the halfway point Merrien had pulled well clear as expected, but behind him Kevin led a group of three and was looking really strong. Not too long afterwards Ed appeared in fifth place and was absolutely flying, and Martin followed about 100 metres further back in ninth. In the women’s race Hannah was still in sixth at this stage, while Gail was eighth about 50 metres behind her teammate.

On the final lap the pace began to tell for some of the field who had gone off too hard, and the superbly-prepared Isle of Man runners took full advantage. GB international marathon runner Merrien had increased his lead with every stride and arrived back at the track on his own to take the expected win by a clear margin. There was great excitement as we waited to see who would appear on the road outside the track in second place, and to the delight of the Manx support Kevin appeared out on his own well ahead of Sean Trott from Bermuda. To huge cheers from the Isle of Man contingent he crossed the line in a brilliant second place. Ed ran probably his best ever race to come home in sixth, and he very nearly caught the tiring Steve Dawes of Guernsey who had been the pre-race favourite for the silver. Martin finished in a very creditable ninth place with an intelligent run, and sensibly backed off a little towards the end with an eye on Friday's 10,000 metres when he knew that the team had the silver medal in the bag.

Hannah and Gail also ran superbly, finishing in fifth and sixth places respectively and both running their hearts out. They each picked off tiring rivals on the last lap and were still looking extremely strong at the end. To the delight of all concerned it was confirmed that they had won the gold medal in the team event - fantastic! Hannah has been a great recent addition to the Isle of Man team, and Gail just continues to go from strength to strength.

Everyone was delighted that Andy Fox was able to make a brief flying visit to the Isle of Wight to see four of his athletes getting the rewards that he and they so richly deserve. I have rarely seen Andy looking so happy as he was after the race! I can't wait for the medal ceremonies this evening, when all five of our competitors will stand on the podium and 'Land of Our Birth' will ring out for the girls.

The preparation started a long time ago and continued last night! Andy Fox discusses tactics with Martin, Ed and Kevin...

...while Hannah and Gail relax!

...and then celebrate together after the race this morning, while Gail passes on the news to the folks at home!

A happy Kev gets a well-deserved rub-down from Andy Watson afterwards...

...Ed is consigned to the bin...

...as is Martin...

...and team manager Anthony Brand finds a new way of rewarding Gail for her success!