Record-breaking swimmers add to Manx medal tally

There has been more success for the Isle of Man at the 2025 Island Games, with another new record set in the pool and further medals won in cycling, archery and athletics.

Manx swimmers secured three of the seven medals up for grabs on Wednesday, the third full day of competition in Orkney.

The men's team set a new games record of one minute, 30.93 seconds on their way to victory in the 4x50m freestyle relay, with Joel Watterson securing silver in 200m freestyle, and Alex Turnbull winning bronze the men's 50m breaststroke.

Tuesday also saw four other bronze medals won, taking the Manx contingent's tally to 32 and placing the team fourth in the overall standings.

The day's action in the pool at Orkney's Pickaquoy Centre saw the swimmers add to Monday's impressive haul of five medals.

And the record-breaking swim by the men's team of Zachary Bellhouse, Magnus Kelly, Harry Robinson and Joel Watterson in the freestyle relay marked Robinson's third trip to the top of the podium at the current games.

He said while he had previously secured an individual gold, the relay success was "amazing".

"We obviously won the gold medal in the medley relay yesterday as well and I did have an individual medal, but it is mainly about the team medals," he said.

"It's just amazing to be stood up there with your mates, having just listened to the Manx national anthem and having a good time."

After soaking up the atmosphere within the venue, Robinson said it felt "surreal" to be part of it.

"This is my second international experience and there's always a really good turnout from the Manx fans.

"And it's just amazing, the noise, the atmosphere was just perfect."

On the track outside at the same venue, there was success for Aimee Christian in the 400m hurdles.

In a repeat of her performance from the previous games in 2023, she secured bronze in the contest, finishing behind the competitors from the Faroe Islands and Guernsey with a time of 1:03.89.

She told Manx Radio Sport she had put in a "stronger" performance this time round despite the blustery conditions.

Christian said: "I'm really happy with it, just the wind took it out of us, but I think we all felt the same and it was a good race between the three of us at the end."

She said her training and preparations ahead of the Orkney event had seen things "come together" for her, with her times coming down by seven seconds.

"Everything just massively helps when it all comes together and I think over the past two years it's really clicked," she added.

Christian's success was followed by another bronze on the athletics track for the Isle of Man.

Sam Perry put in a time of 3:57.6 in the men's 1,500m to finish third behind Jersey and Guernsey, with Manx team-mate Ryan Corrin in 12th place.

There was also more success for the island's cyclists, who secured the first Manx medal of the day by taking bronze in the men's team criterium.

Owen Collins, Mark Horsthuis, Eric Kelly and Ross Thornley took third behind the Channel Islands nations.

Speaking to Manx Radio Sport afterwards, Kelly said it was "really tough going".

"There wasn't much rest on that course, and in the heat as well it was really tough," he said.

"There were some really fast riders up the front so it was just try and manage your race and not blow up too early.

"As a team we rode pretty well, so I'm happy with the performance."

And Ethan Moore and Aalin George took mixed bronze in the archery compound events, slotting in behind the Faroe Islands and Jersey in the final standings.

The 2025 Orkney Island Games continue until Friday, with more action involving Manx athletes in archery, athletics, badminton, cycling and golf due to take place on Wednesday.

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