Pitschou drops the pairs

GARY PITSCHOU will try to reproduce his World Champion-of-Champions form at this weekend's British Isles Championships in Llandrindod in Wales. Pitschou, who reached the semi-finals in Australia last winter, has drawn Scot David Anderson in the preliminary round of the singles, with Welshman Wayne Griffiths awaiting the winner in the semis.

The Guernsey champion also competes in the triples alongside Len Le Ber and Nigel Collins. The latter is a replacement for the injured Dave Lucas who had also qualified with Pitschou for the pairs, who will now not play.

Guernsey team manager Garry Collins said dropping the pairs was the right decision to get round the problem of Pitschou being restricted to just two appearances.

'British Isles rules state that you may only compete in two events. Singles players cannot be replaced and in team events only one player. Therefore, Gary could not play in the three events.'

Guernsey's triples representatives also face a preliminary round tie against the Scots, with the winner playing either England or Ireland in the semi-finals. But the fours' squad of Matt Le Ber, Len Le Ber, Craig Dorey and Dave Trebert receive a bye into the semis where they will meet the winner of the Jersey-Scotland clash.

Matt Le Ber also plays in the junior singles.