Strong team aims to turn expectations into medals

BOWLS features this year for only the second time in the history of the Island Games. And Guernsey, the only island to host the sport previously back in 1987, is expected to be heavily involved in the medal hunt.

The Sarnian squad started with 24 members in late 2003, although a few withdrew due to other bowls commitments, including Nick Donaldson and Neal Mollet.

However, the team is still very strong, as manager Garry Collins pointed out.

'I congratulate all those selected as they are the best in the island,' he said.

'I was very excited to be asked to lead the team. I enjoy the organisation and will ensure the Guernsey bowlers have the best support to win medals.

'On paper we should be ranking high in the medals, but paper does not mean gold so I have a large training programme for the bowlers when the island championships are finished,' added Collins.

The team has a wide range of members including top young players such as Lianna Bichard and Dan de la Mare, who showed their talents again on the international stage at the World under-25s in Jersey last November.

Also travelling are Alison Merrien, 'who needs little managing, she's just class' said Collins, and Gwen de la Mare who returned from Ireland with a hat-trick in the test match.

Husband and wife Paul and Carol Ingrouille, have accepted positions as team captains.

The Guernsey contingent will be playing singles, pairs and fours although the final combination has yet to be decided.

There are nine islands involved - all from the British Isles.

The host island is training hard and is to have Lewis Smith, advanced coach from Aberdeenshire, to assist with their preparations.

The programme starts on the Monday of the Games with the fours playing to a finish on Wednesday morning. The singles and pairs then begin on Wednesday afternoon with the finals being held on the Friday.

The venue is the Clickimin Bowls Hall within the leisure complex in Lerwick. The hall was opened in 1995 and was re-carpeted during 2004.

To cover the cost of going to the Games, the Guernsey squad has so far raised £3,000.

It has another horse race evening tomorrow at the Bowls Stadium and a wine tasting evening on 23 April.