Dodd will peak for Gibraltar
ALL IS going well in Sheffield for Guernsey’s relocated top player Garry Dodd – although he would like to see a certain ‘13-week rule’ gone by the time he returns.
Dodd is enjoying the mainland experience alongside girlfriend Rosie Lesley and the diverse table tennis options on offer have left him hungry to regain the peak form of his Manchester University days.
He also admits that the move has helped him overcome a previous patch of staleness.
‘In Guernsey, you’re playing with the same people, in the same venue, same time, same day and so on,’ said Dodd.
‘In Sheffield, the practice is kind of left to yourself – you organise your own practice. You might be playing one venue one day, another the next day – the variety of players is only beneficial to my game.
‘There’s probably a good 10 or 15 players that aren’t far off my standard I can practice with, so I’ve got good options.’
Moreover, Dodd has earned the treasured opportunity to train with GB’s full-time para-athletes at the English Institute of Sport, something that he hopes to use to up his own game.
‘The training at EIS is incredible – you have Para world, European, Commonwealth and Olympic champions, so the professionalism and hunger during the practice is of the highest order and something I have not witnessed before,’ he added.
‘Prior to the Island Games, I’ll use this practice and combine it with tournaments, so I should be in the best condition going into a Games.’
More in Thursday's Guernsey Press.
