Three new caps in squad for Irish trip

THE Guernsey Indoor Bowling Association has been invited to select a team of six men and six women to represent Guernsey in an international test series in Belfast in November. The series will involve four triples games, six mixed pairs games and 12 singles over the weekend of 20 and 21 November and will be the sixth visit by Guernsey bowlers to the Shaws Bridge Stadium.

Daniel de la Mare, Craig Dorey, Richard Hill, Paul Ingrouille, Ian Merrien and Paul Merrien have been selected for the men and Angela Bartie, Lianna Bichard, Gwen de la Mare, Shirley Petit, Mavis Richards and Margery Yates will form the women's squad.

Garry Collins is the team manager.

The team represents a blend of youth and experience and there are three new caps in the form of Hill, Richards and Bartie.

Despite their tender years Bichard, Daniel de la Mare and Craig Dorey have all played bowls at the highest level, while brothers Ian and Paul Merrien have regularly featured in the Guernsey and Channel Island teams and both have Commonwealth Games experience.

Hill earns his place on the back of consistent displays in local leagues and competitions over a number of years and topped it all with a very successful 2003/04 season.

Paul Ingrouille makes up the team as the most capped player selected for this event.

Bartie made her international debut on the outdoor stage in the European team that faced Malaysia in 2003 and earns her first indoor cap, as does Richards who has proved herself to be a talented skip on the local scene.

Gwen de la Mare, Shirley Petit and Marjery Yates all have previous test match experience and are joined by Bichard, 18, in an excellent opportunity to impress prior to selection for the NatWest Island Games in the Shetland Islands next year.