Mitchell's switch delights new captain

NOT many Coventry City fans wear a smile these days. But six weeks into his hectic year of functions and golf, golf, golf, new L'Ancresse Golf Club captain Pete Kenney is an exception to that particular rule.

Kenney wants to see L'Ancresse become the dominant force in CI team golf.

His hopes of realising that have been raised with the news that Jack Mitchell, Guernsey's junior champion for the past two years and now a full island cap, has plumped for the former artisans' club ahead of the Royal Guernsey.

'I'm ecstatic about it - very pleased.

'Anything that boosts the prestige of the club,' says the member of 20 years and a hard-working committee man.

Kenney said it's a big year for the club's first team with Mitchell aboard.

'We've got quite a strong team with Steve Mahy as our first-team captain.

'We were Channel Islands champions two years ago and I want us to win it again.'

Close to home, he is targeting holding onto the de la Rue Shield from the clutches of the Royal Guernsey.

'That's the most important trophy from our point of view. To take the de la Rue from the Royal is important.'

The squad is strong and unquestionably the best in the club's long history.

Besides Mahy and Mitchell, Kenney can call on full island players in Andy Eggo, Danny Bisson, Danny Blondel and Ian Thomas, as well as the likes of Luke and Jamie Blondel, both on the fringe of the senior island team and not-to-be-underestimated loyal clubmen such as Mike Hamon and Mick King.

He predicts a bright future for the club in team golf against the CI's other big clubs.

'Apart from Jack we've got some really good juniors up and coming.'

L'Ancresse start their new regular season on the first Saturday in March and complete it in September with the Macleane Trophy.

In answer to those members who say the club's competitions finish too early, he has sympathy and points to the Macleane being pushed back into September and a jam-packed schedule.

'The fixture list is so congested that it's impossible to move things around.'

He likes to think his own game, too, will improve.

Slowly but surely he has edged down to 14.

'I'd like to get down to 12, which would probably be my limit.'