Team Isle of Wight have Midas touch — already equalling Island Games gold medal haul of 2017

There were two golds in judo and athletics, plus another in rifle shooting to take the Isle of Wight to seven golds in total so far.

Yesterday’s (Monday’s) heroics meant the team has already equalled its final gold medal total from the 2017 Island Games in Gotland, Sweden.

Shooters Dom Cowen and Andy Whittall got the gold rush under way by winning the 50m prone rifle team event.

Andy Whittall and Dom Cowen, who won gold in the prone rifle team event in the Island Games. Photo: Matt White

In judo, sisters Hannah, 16, and Emily Niven, 18, won the women’s 52kg and 63kg respectively.

Emily said: “I was quite surprised, I was just coming here to gain experience and to see how it went.

“I didn’t expect to win a medal, let alone gold.”

Sisters Hannah and Emily Niven did the Isle of Wight proud by winning individual gold medals in judo yesterday (Monday). Photo: Matt White

On the track, James Forman won gold in the men’s 400m hurdles and dedicated the win to his dad.

Forman said: “It means a lot. My dad coaches me — he’s had quite a stressful few years with illness, so to come out here and win for him was amazing.

 “I broke the record on the Island in 2011 — that was the aim this time, but the wind was tough. 

"At times I felt like I was almost running backwards, so I just had to grit my teeth.

"I’m really happy to win gold.”

Team Isle of Wight athletes James Forman and Dan Eckersley on the winners podium, with their gold medals.

Dan Eckersley also won gold, comfortably retaining the 3,000m steeplechase title he won in Gotland two years ago.

Dan said: “I came here to win it, so job done. I’m happy.

“The race went to plan. The conditions with the wind made it nasty at times, but it was the same for everyone.

“Really pleased and I can now focus on the 5km event.”

Team Isle of Wight swimming talent Abigail Lacey, left, on her way to winning silver in the 400m medley.

Team Isle of Wight won their first medal in the pool after Abigail Lacey became the fastest-ever Island female swimmer in the 400m individual medley to take silver.

Shooting sisters Imogen and Shelley Moss also added to their medal tally by winning silver in the ladies’ pair pistol event.

Elsewhere, the Island’s table tennis team exceeded expectations to finish fifth overall.

Their coach, Dan Burns, a nine-time gold medal winner in the Island Games over the years, said: “It was an epic performance by the team.

"They played their absolute hearts out and, while we didn’t win a medal, I couldn't be more pleased.

“We played Jersey and Guernsey, who both reached the final, in a very tough group. We did brilliantly.”

Squash player, Amelie Haworth, Team Isle of Wight's youngest athlete at the age of 13 years, will be aiming to win bronze today (Tuesday).

In squash, Amelie Haworth, 13, of Godshill, battled through a tough quarter final before narrowly losing in the semi-final against the Caymen Islands.

Today (Tuesday), Amelie will play for a bronze medal.