Team GB have returned from the JCC Games in Rockland, New York, with a record medal haul.
The squad broke the previous total from Denver in 2010 with a mammoth 96 medals.
The Boys Football team held their nerve to win one of 34 gold medals following a nail-biting penalty shootout
against Suffolk County.
GB fell behind for the first time in the tournament but managed to equalise a minute later through Sam Belchak.
The defending champions looked solid in defence but could not manage a winner so the game went into extra time. Dylan Kaye gave GB the upper hand but Suffolk levelled with the last kick of the game to take it to penalties. GB showed great composure from the spot to win 4-2 and retain the gold medal for the fourth year running.
There was heartbreak in the Girls Lacrosse competition where GB were edged out 16-15 by Rockland Mixed. GB endured a bad spell in the first half where the hosts scored seven quickfire goals without reply. Rockland led 12-5 with 15 minutes remaining and although GB mounted a stirring comeback, they fell just short.
The squad received bronze medals and were named the team of the tournament.
GB bowed out at the quarter-finals stage of the Girls Football competition after going down 4-1 against Rockland. A well-taken goal from Chloe Greenberg hauled GB level but Rockland stepped up a gear to run out worthy winners.
GB won three medals in the Tennis event with Jacob Alberga striking gold in the under-14 B competition after his opponent retired during the final. Marco Laurence and Abi Spanbok claimed bronze medals in the doubles.
Hannah Grunwerg was the standout performer in the Dancing competition. She claimed four golds and one silver.
GB also won the Israel dance routine, with Amanda Tropp bringing home five medals including two gold. Claudia Marks, Daisy Margolis, Sarah Rabin and Sarah Nagar were also successful.
Jack Myers stole the show in the Golf competition. He brought home five golds and a silver, with Joey Charles claiming one silver and three bronze.
The GB swimmers registered an impressive 43-medal tally in the pool, with each competitor bringing home silverware. Daniel Schindler and Robert Dos Santos won four gold medals apiece, with Dos Santos capturing 11 medals overall. Elisha Kramer chipped in with two more golds, while sisters Rachel and Naomi Ayrton carried on their good work from last year’s European Maccabi Games with an impressive nine medal haul between them. There was also silverware for Chloe Jacobs, Kate Peters, Rachel Goldstein and Libby Walker.
There were 13 medals for GB in Table Tennis, with Sam Krisman, Ronen Weinstein, Zak Mandel, Sam Gotlieb, Jacob Nico Katz and Sharon Bamberg collecting at least two medals. Krisman led the way with a gold and two silver.
On top of the 34 gold medals, GB collected 30 silver and 32 bronze.
Reflecting on a successful performance, Team GB joint-manager Brian Green said: “The squad were impeccably behaved on and off the field of play and were a true credit to their families and Maccabi GB. In some cases it is going to be difficult to prise the kids away from their new families.
“Orange County, LA, who are hosting next year’s JCC Games, are desperate for us to send a large delegation again.”
How they fared
FOOTBALL
U14 Boys Team (gold)
TENNIS
Singles - Jacob Alberga (gold)
Doubles - Marco Laurence and Abi Spanbok (bronze)
DANCE
Hannah Grunwerg (4 gold, 1 silver)
Amanda Tropp (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
Claudia Marks (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
Daisy Margolis (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)
Sarah Rabin (1 gold, 3 bronze)
Sarah Nagar (1 gold, 2 silver)
GOLF
Jack Myers (5 gold, 1 silver)
Joey Charles (1 silver, 3 bronze)
SWIMMING
Daniel Schindler (4 gold, 4 bronze)
Robert Dos Santos (4 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze)
Elisha Kramer (2 gold, 3 bronze)
Rachel Ayrton (3 gold, 1 silver)
Naomi Ayrton (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
Chloe Jacobs (5 silver, 2 bronze)
Kate Peters (1 bronze)
Rachel Goldstein (1 bronze)
Libby Walker (1 bronze)
TABLE TENNIS
Sam Krisman (1 gold, 2 silver)
Ronen Weinstein (1 gold, 1 bronze)
Zak Mandel (2 silver)
Sam Gotlieb 2 silver)
Jacob Nico Katz (1 silver, 1 bronze)
Sharon Bamberg (2 bronze)
Total medal breakdown: 34xgold, 30xsilver, 32xbronze
