MONTHS of preparation bore the fruit of a gold medal for Marlene Place. The 60-year-old should stand as an inspiration to others as she worked overtime to achieve her goal of victory at her first Island Games.

‘I have been working really hard since March when Mick [Le Pelley, the Guernsey team manager] asked me if I would be interested in coming,’ Place said.

‘I have been going to the UK for coaching and practice events and I have had a lot of support from my family and friends because I also manage the Cheshire Home.’

So what were her own expectations coming into the Games?

‘Anybody coming to Rhodes is hoping for some sort of [medal] placing,’ she said.

‘I did not know what the opposition would be like and I am really pleased to get gold – and by just one clay.’

As that suggests, the women’s Olympic trap competition was a tense affair at the steaming hot Afandou range.

Place went into the flash final one target ahead of Joanne Dunlop from the Shetland Islands.

They matched each other clay for clay from that point, both scoring 13 and giving Place the title.

‘When shooting you always try to be focused, but you are bound to be anxious for any final like that,’ the Guernsey shooter said.

‘It was extremely hot and dusty and so they were not the easiest of conditions. We had a few days to acclimatise beforehand, which helped, but it is still tiring because you are up here most of the day.

‘You have just got to concentrate on each individual clay.’

Place took up shooting around seven years ago, but has been doing Olympic trap for only three.

‘It is the best discipline,’ she said, with a smile.

‘It takes a lot of concentration and it is fair because it is a computerised system so every shooter gets the same targets, just at different times.

‘It is challenging,’ Place added.

Her gold was the icing on the cake for what had so far been an outstanding week for Sarnian clay shooters.

‘This has been our best Games by far,’ said Le Pelley.

‘This time everyone has taken it really seriously, with some going away for coaching and events and the spirit is excellent in the team.’

While he describes Place as a great example to follow, Le Pelley hopes to see more youngsters take up the sport in Guernsey, saying that one of the present team shows what can be done at a young age.

‘James Ashplant [16] is going to be a big star and he is really mature for his age,’ the manager said.