Shetland meeting leads to Isle of Wight match

THE best young bowls talent in both Guernsey and the Isle of Wight are set to clash in the first Investec Junior Test later this month. Mavis Richards will be in charge of the seven-strong Guernsey party of under-21s from the Tigers club she runs at the Guernsey Bowls Stadium.

'The idea for this junior test started after meeting Lucy Beere, a 23-year-old bowler from the Isle of Wight,' said Richards.

'After meeting Lucy at the Island Games in Shetland, she visited Guernsey with her fiance to play in the January Open tournament and Easter Festival here this year,' she added.

'As bowls is not a hugely popular sport for young people, juniors both in the Isle of Wight and here struggle to find other young bowlers to play against.

'But after liaising with the junior coach in the Isle of Wight it was decided that six under-21s from Guernsey would travel there to represent us in the first Guernsey-Isle of Wight Test.'

The Tigers chief said the event could not have happened without the financial support of Investec.

'Their donation has enabled us to purchase new uniforms as well as pay a significant amount towards the travel expenses.

'A horse race evening has also been held to cover the remaining travel expenses,' Richards added.

The test format will be six singles plus three pairs and two triples.