'Never say never' hopes on medal

GUERNSEY'S team head off tomorrow for the creme de la creme World Bowls Championships in New Zealand. Team player-manager Garry Collins, Ian Merrien, Nigel Collins, Mac Timms and Gary Pitschou will be flying the island flag in Christchurch when the prestigious tournament kicks off next week.

They have ambitions of getting on the medals table against the top 24 bowls nations in the world - which are split into two groups of 12.

'Following on from Alison Merrien's magnificent achievement in the Champion of Champions we have high hopes,' said Garry Collins.

'It's the toughest event in bowls and it's like the Olympics with the cream playing each other,' he said yesterday.

'Every game and every shot is important.'

If Guernsey manage to get into the top four of their group they qualify for the straight knockout stage.

'We have a strong team - let's hope in one of the disciplines we can get on the medal table,' said Collins.

Each player is allowed to compete in only two disciplines.

Pitschou is involved in the singles and triples, Timms in the pairs and fours and Merrien in the pairs and fours.

Nigel and Garry Collins both participate in the triples and fours events.

The first two weeks of the tournament will see the singles and triples tournaments.

'It's disappointing that Matt Le Ber could not make it, but we have got together the best team we could,' said Collins.

Guernsey qualified for the event by topping a European group involving Portugal, Spain, Malta, Cyprus, Netherlands and Isle of Man in September 2006.

The achievement earned the team a Sports Commission award.

'It's top level competition - there are 24 countries and the lower ones have had to go through qualification to get through,' said Merrien.

'As a team event it's as high as we can go. This will be my first one and I'm looking forward to it. It's very difficult to say how we will do and I think our chance in each of them is going to be the same, which is hard.'

But the 34-year-old husband of world champion Alison rates the chances of Guernsey getting a medal as 'very slim' although he stressed 'never say never'.

He believes Australia and New Zealand will be favourites for the top honours and tipped England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to do well.

'It's going to be a really tough competition,' said Merrien.

All the team are fully committed - they have had to fork out over £1,000 each from their own pockets and have to take three weeks off work to compete on the other side of the world.

The outdoor tournament begins on Thursday after a few days practice.

Guernsey did not qualify for the last World Championships four years ago in Scotland and previously competed in 2000 in South Africa.