'Inconceivable' that Merrien will not be in Glasgow

ONE of the strongest and most familiar voices in international bowls has said Guernsey has made a mistake in not giving Alison Merrien the singles spot in Glasgow next summer.

David Rhys-Jones, known as 'The Voice of Bowls', has described Merrien's rejection of a place in the Guernsey team as one half of the women's pairs, as 'very sad'.

Speaking from his Clevedon base yesterday, Rhys-Jones, said: 'I find the situation that has developed in Guernsey very sad'.

'To an outsider's view, it is simply inconceivable that Alison Merrien, a real challenger for a medal – even, possibly, the gold medal – will not be representing Guernsey in the singles in Glasgow next year.'

Rhys-Jones, the sport's most eminent journalist who as well as serving national and regional papers writes a column in Bowls International magazine, added that in the sport of lawn bowls, Guernsey has an embarrassment of riches, citing that only this year in the British championships Len Le Ber, Garry Collins, Gary Pitschou and Matt Le Ber won the fours title, Kris Bichard became under-25 singles champion, and Matt Solway and Todd Priaulx were runners-up in the pairs.

'But there is no doubt that the jewel in Guernsey's crown is the one-and-only Alison Merrien, who has proved, time and time again, that she is the equal of any woman bowler on the planet.'

More in today's Guernsey Press.