Selection 'mess' for Guernsey bowlers

DISCONTENT with the selection process, both within the sport and imposed by the Guernsey Commonwealth Games selectors, is understood to be behind a number of top bowlers withdrawing their names for Glasgow in 2014.

The upshot is that perhaps as few as five will get the nod for next year's big event in Scotland.

While Len Le Ber and Gary Pitschou, the newly-crowned CI champion, had previously signalled an intent not to push for selection, now Kris Bichard, who is the British Under-25s champion, and Dan de la Mare, have withdrawn.

On top of that the nominated women's team manager, Angela Bartie, has also pulled out of going to Scotland next summer.

Although players have presented arguments ranging from family commitments to fatigue and wishing to take a break from the game as reasons for withdrawing from the selection process, there is a strong feeling that the agreed selection criteria is not helping.

Garry Collins, who is one of only two players who have achieved the qualification mark set and is also Bowl Guernsey delegate to the Guernsey Commonwealth games Association, admits that the process is a 'bit of a mess', not helped by World Bowls cancelling the Atlantic Rim Championship, one of the designated qualifying events.

'The whole criteria has backfired on Bowls Guernsey and there is nothing we can do about it,' said Collins.