This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

Young athletes wanting to compete in the UK but Flybe wont do a discount for athletics club.

GUERNSEY’S most promising junior athletes, including several who could make their bow at next year’s Island Games, have been stopped in their tracks by prohibitive air fares.

Richard Cowling, the GIAAC’s head of junior track and field, is dismayed that Flybe, which flew the UK Young Athletes League squad to and from Southampton in 2007, has doubled its fares.

That, he said, has put the club’s participation in the national structure in jeopardy.

‘The league that we participate in will start in early May. But as a direct result of Flybe’s pricing structure, they have placed the whole season in a precarious, almost impossible, position,’ said Mr Cowling.

‘They have virtually doubled the charges from last year on the Southampton route to £175 per ticket for a day return on a Sunday.

‘Last year, the club had tickets throughout the whole season priced at £85 for each trip, which was just about affordable for the parents.

‘To ask them to fund their children on day trips to the UK at the new fare, possibly for one event, is ridiculous and unfortunately it won’t happen, which is an enormous disappointment for the young athletes and quite damaging to the future of athletics as a whole.’

Mr Cowling has taken great pride in developing the UK YAL link and sees it as vital for the progression of competition-starved local boys and girls.

‘It has taken four years for the GIAAC to establish itself in the league and there is no doubt that the benefit of competition on a regular basis against the UK athletes has turned our junior athletes into the best group the club has ever had.

‘We have a large group of highly-ranked UK athletes who will no doubt suffer should they not be able to compete there regularly.’

He said he felt let down by the airline.

‘We have supported Flybe on all flights to either Southampton or Gatwick over the past four years. Our reward is to pay double this year.

‘Of course, Blue Islands fly the Southampton route now, but unfortunately they have been denied the additional slots to help us out. That’s very disappointing.’

Mr Cowling said that the GIAAC was making extensive efforts to find sponsorship to subsidise the five rounds of the YAL, but to date appeals have fallen on deaf ears.

* Flybe was approached for comment but did not respond.