Bichard's 'belles' best prepared for historic clash

FIVE-times island champion Kay Mapley is as excited as anyone in the home team about this week's inaugural inter-insular women's team clash.

'It's long overdue,' said the player who along with Veronica Bougourd, 17 times the Guernsey matchplay champion, dominated the island women's scene until the arrival of Jan Chamberlain and the recent emergence of young Aimee Ponte.

All but Chamberlain, who misses out due to a long-standing holiday booking, come together to comprise a strong Guernsey side that takes on the cream of Jersey in a series of five foursomes, five fourballs and 10 singles over two days.

'A proper ladies' inter-insular is long overdue and we are all looking forward to it,' said Mapley who had all but given up hope of such an event ever being staged.