The CIAC will be looking for Tom Druce to produce the goods in Kingston tomorrow. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0519909)
LOCAL 400m runner Tom Druce will be hoping to put in a big performance at the weekend when the Sportingbet Channel Islands Athletics Club competes at national league level for the first time.
The Bath-based athlete will be one of the most experienced names in a squad that will be without a number of their big stars for the first British National League Division Three meeting in Kingston tomorrow.
However, top hurdler Kylie Robilliard could provide a welcome boost to the team for Sunday’s UK National Women’s League Division Four meeting in Newport.
She is expected to make her return in CIAC colours, having been sidelined for much of last season through injury.
CIAC coach Andrew Winnie said the weekend would be a big test for the local athletes, particularly as the timing of the meetings meant having to field a depleted squad.
‘June is always a tough month because a lot of our younger athletes have A-levels and those at university also have exams.
‘Whoever we field, though, this weekend will be a big step up in class for many of the athletes and really we are looking to put down a marker for the season ahead,’ he said.
‘This is the first year the CIAC has competed in the national leagues and we need to go out there and see just how tough it is.
‘Frankly I’d be delighted if the men’s and women’s teams finished somewhere near mid-table this season, as that would represent excellent progress.’
The men will be without Dale Garland, who this season is focusing his attention on the Beijing Olympics, and Lee Merrien, who is unavailable due to other commitments.
The club has also lost Jersey’s UK-ranked shot putter Jamie Stevenson, who recently joined Newham and Essex Beagles.
However, Jersey Spartan and club captain Peter Irving makes a welcome return after having missed last season through injury and is back to his best in the 400m hurdles.
Entry into the British leagues is the first stage in the CIAC’s five-year plan to develop the islands’ top athletes though competing at national level, with an ultimate goal of having one or more local representatives at the London Olympics.
Other Guernsey stars who will making the trip to Kingston include Steve Dawes, who goes in the 5,000m, and Matt Loveridge, who will compete in the 800m and possibly double up over 400m, while Tim Coates races in the 1,500m.
Eighteen-year-old Michael Batiste, the Hampshire under-20 champion, also goes in the 400m hurdles.
Other than Robilliard, the only Guernsey competitors in the women’s team in Wales will be Louise Perrio, who will take on the 3,000m, and Martine Scholes, who goes in the 1,500m and may double up over the longer distance in the B-event.
Gemma Dawkins, who last month won Jersey’s first ever track gold at the junior equivalent of the Island Games in Guadeloupe, could also pick up valuable points in the 400m, while fellow Spartan Sophie Twinam is showing great form over the one-lap hurdles.
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