Ann gets very serious

ANN BOWDITCH has gone into part-time employment in an attempt to maximise her potential as a cyclist. And Guernsey's golden girl has also revealed that she will be at the NatWest Island Games in Shetland after all.

The 2003 Total CI Sports Personality of the Year has reduced her working hours from 35 to 25 per week to allow herself more time for training and, just as importantly, recuperation.

Bowditch admitted that 'it is difficult to know what difference it will make', but she has taken the view that her cycling career will only be short in comparison to her working life and she wants to make the most of her outstanding ability on a bike.

'I have not got silly ideas into my head about being an Olympian or anything like that, it is just a case of seeing what I can achieve. I am doing what I want to do,' she said.

'Having that sort of support definitely helps. They have also been sponsoring me and have basically funded my trips away.'

Year 2004 was another brilliant one for Bowditch as she became national hillclimb champion and achieved top 10 finishes at the national 25-mile championships, the national 50-mile time trial and the British time trial championships.

This year she has her sights set on various national events and had originally planned not to attend the Island Games as the period beforehand was going to be used as a rest period.

She said it is 'nigh-on impossible' to go through a whole season competing at her optimum level.

But after taking the 'difficult decision', she will alter her programme to fit that week in because the Games hold a special place in her heart.

'It was more a case of wanting to be involved for Guernsey and cycling than anything else. It will not be as good as the last Games because they were at home, but at the moment it sounds fairly promising,' Bowditch said.