Ali has to put up with 6.30am start

A CONFIDENT Alison Merrien arrived at Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk on Thursday to do battle in the WBT world women's match- play and mixed pairs championships, only to find that her practice slot was down for 6.30am yesterday.

'I didn't know there was such a time,' she joked, her mood a good one after hearing of her success in winning the most prestigious award in Guernsey sport the previous evening.

'Apart from the middle of the night, that's the only time the portable rink was available – but that's fine with me – I'm really looking forward to getting on the rink.'

The 34-year-old Merrien will certainly be kept busy today when she takes her bow in both championships.

After teaming up with Scots-born England captain Andy Thomson against the Anglo-Scottish duo Debbie Stavrou and Alex Marshall this afternoon, she takes on American Lorraine Hitchcock in the singles tonight.