It was another golden day for the Cook Islands yesterday especially on the water in Aitutaki and on the tennis courts at Nikao.

The three golds in sailing, along with the women’s tennis singles and doubles medals, took the Cook Islands tally to 45 medals in total – 15 gold medals, 13 silver and 17 bronze.

It’s the country’s best performance at any Pacific Games to date.

Helema Williams won gold in the Laser radial in Aitutaki, and another with Teau McKenzie in the team event. The Laser standard sailing team of Junior Charlie and Peter Henry also secured gold on the Aitutaki lagoon.

Tennis star Kairangi Vano finally got herself a deserved gold in the tennis singles, and then she teamed up with Brittany Teei to win the women’s doubles.

The biggest mover over the last two days has been Samoa, with the weightlifters making a hefty contribution in terms of the country’s gold medal haul.

Unfortunately for many in the Samoan contingent, the tragic events back home this week may overshadow its efforts at these games.

Fiji will leave these games as the medal leaders with 32 golds, 25 silver and 20 bronze – thanks mainly to the efforts of its athletes on the track and field last week.

And it appears that either Fiji or Samoa will take home the last gold medal of the 2009 Pacific Mini Games in the blue-ribbon event, rugby sevens, which concludes this afternoon at the BCI Stadium.

New Caledonia are in second place with 23 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze, with Tahiti Nui in third place with 21 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze. - Cook Islands News