Guernsey duo still in the hunt for World glory

Canada’s Linda Ng is one of the players enjoying the championships – she’s the only competitor out of the 58 numbered field to remain unbeaten in both the singles and mixed pairs events.

The Guernsey club have certainly embraced the championships and have plenty to shout about on the green too with members Rose Ogier and Jason Greenslade still in the hunt for glory in the women’s and men’s singles and mixed pairs, where Alison Merrien MBE, who is also IIBC president, also maintains a strong interest with her partner Olle Backgren from Sweden.

In the men’s singles, Jason is one of four players all maintaining a 100 per cent record along with Australia’s Ray Pearse, Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple from Malaysia and Harry Goodwin, England, who top their sections, while New Zealand’s Shannon McIlroy is the other group leader.

Ireland’s Simon Martin must surely have returned one of the biggest ever victories in the championships with a 21-0, 17-3 victory against Jamaica.

In the women’s event, it is Tayla Bruce, New Zealand, Canada’s Linda Ng and Rebecca McMillan, England, who have won all four games so far, with Bruce and Ng (first and second in their section respectively) due to go head-to-head tomorrow. Heading the other sections are Samantha Atkinson, Australia, Connie Rixon, Malta, and Natalie McWilliams from Scotland.

But it was Hong Kong’s Gloria Yat Ting Ha and Stanley Gon Lap Lai caused one of the main shocks of the day beating high-flyers Tayla Bruce and Shannon McIlroy, New Zealand, 6-3, 10-5, in the mixed event.

Australia’s Samantha Atkinson and Ray Pearse meanwhile bounced back from their defeat to Namibia the previous day recording a win against the Isle of Man, but they were pushed all the way by Caroline Whitehead and Clive McGreal before getting over the line on a tie-break end.

Australia’s victory saw them leapfrog over Wales’ Sara Nicholls and Kristian Crocker, who had a bye, to top the section one at the end of the penultimate day of sectional play, while the aforementioned Sweden and Guernsey pair lead section two, with Nor Farrah Ain Abdullah and Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple’s win for Malaysia over Malta’s Connie Rixon and Joe Saragozza earning them second spot.

Canada’s Linda Ng and Mike McNorton – who have won all four games – are in poll position in section three, with Ireland’s Sandra Bailie MBE and Simon Martin occupying second place courtesy of their win over the Falkland Islands and Scotland pair, Oliver Thompson and Natalie McWilliams.

Section four sees New Zealand first and England (Rebecca McMillan and Harry Goodwin) second, while Scotland’s Julie Forrest and Michael Stepney, who are the other team unbeaten, occupy the driving seat, with the host club Guernsey’s Rose Ogier and Jason Greenslade in second place.

The final of sectional play continues today at 8.30am.