Donaldson handed an unpromising draw

NICKY DONALDSON is Guernsey's sole representative in the British Isles indoor bowls championships in Llanelli, south Wales, this week. Donaldson has proved himself to be a gritty competitor who can hold his own on the international stage and he will relish his chance to challenge the English champion, Andy Thomson, who was number one on the World Bowls Tour ranking list until the revised rankings were announced last week.

Thomson is enjoying an Indian summer, having won back-to-back world indoor singles titles in 1994 and 1995, and is playing with renewed confidence and as well as ever, so Donaldson will have his work cut out if he is to make it through to the final.

Also in the star-studded field are top Scot Darren Burnett and world-ranked Robert Weale, who will be representing Scotland and Wales respectively in the Commonwealth Games singles in Melbourne.

Jersey players represent the CI in all the other British Isles events, having dominated the area finals at Hougue du Pommier early last month.