Tough draws for Sarnians
THE world outdoor bowls championships get under way tomorrow in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Guernsey will be represented by a five-man team - Mac Timms, Nigel and Garry Collins, Ian Merrien and Gary Pitschou.
THE world outdoor bowls championships get under way tomorrow in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Guernsey will be represented by a five-man team - Mac Timms, Nigel and Garry Collins, Ian Merrien and Gary Pitschou. History will be made because it is the first time that the men's and women's championships have been held simultaneously at the same venue - but there are a couple of major regrets, both caused by controversial decisions on the part of the sport's ruling body - World Bowls Limited.
The first regret? A new format decrees that only 24 countries may compete in the men's and women's championship, so Guernsey's women, who failed to qualify, are left out in the cold.
The second is the result of a monumental scheduling blunder. A political stand-off between the WBL and the World Bowls Tour, who run the professional arm of the sport, means the outdoor championships down under clash with the equivalent indoor event, already under way at Potters Leisure Resort in East Anglia.
In Christchurch, where the weather will be considerably warmer than in Norfolk, the first half of the championships will focus on pairs and triples, after which the teams will regroup for singles and fours.
Timms and Merrien, who carry the island's hopes in the pairs, start their 12-team round robin tomorrow with a big game against Darren Burnett and Billy Mellors, who are hotly tipped for the title.
After lunch, they meet a young Hong Kong pair, Robin Chok and Heron Lau, before going on to complete an 11-match schedule over the next four days.
Also in the section are heavyweights England, Wales, Canada and South Africa, but at least Timms and Merrien have avoided pairs from the host country and Australia.
Nigel and Garry Collins team up with Pitschou in the triples and have an even harder draw than the Sarnian pair.
Opening their campaign against Atlantic champions Wales, they face stiff opposition from the likes of England, Scotland, Australia, South Africa and Malaysia over five gruelling days.
When the round robin is complete, the top four in each section will move through to the quarter-finals.
