Ali Merrien to miss Commonwealth Games

ALISON MERRIEN has confirmed she has rejected a place at next summer's Commonwealth Games, claiming she had little option but to.

Although falling short of the set qualifying mark, Bowls Guernsey were prepared to put her name forward to the Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association to confirm her selection.

But, in a letter to Bowls Guernsey, copied to the Guernsey Press, the island's most celebrated and successful bowler, currently ranked three in the World Bowls rankings, explained why she no longer wished to be considered.

'Unfortunately, I feel that I, along with others, have been let down by outdoor bowls in Guernsey.'

Her main gripe appears that Bowls Guernsey are bucking the trend of world nations and excluding World Bowls Ltd competitions as part of the qualifying process which, also, has harmed her husband Ian's chances of competing in Glasgow.

'On hearing rumours during the World Cup, a number of countries approached me and it appears we were the only country out of 12 other Commonwealth countries there to exclude certain events run by World Bowls Ltd who run the bowls event for the Commonwealth Games.'