DALE GARLAND seemingly can’t stop writing local sporting history. Last evening, in grey and chilly Manchester and watched by millions on national television, Garland became the first Guernseyman to land a senior AAAs medal (outside combined events) in finishing second in the 400m hurdles behind Britain’s Olympic Games gold-medal hope Chris Rawlinson.

Despite the poor conditions on the track just a stone’s throw from the City of Manchester Stadium where he hurtled to prominence at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Garland set a new island record of 51.16sec., a tenth of a second inside his previous best set in winning the Island Games gold on his home track.

‘It has got to be the best ever performance by a Guernsey athlete at the senior national championships,’ said track and field statistician, Ray Hollis.

‘I knew I could run that sort of time and was happy with the way it went,’ said Garland.

‘You’ve got to take the opportunity when it comes along,’ he added, acknowledging that at least one top British runner had ducked the meeting which doubled as Olympic trials.

Garland stormed through the field in the closing 150 metres from lane six in the eight-man race. Down the final straight he passed two rivals and while the world-class Rawlinson was well out of touch, Garland finished impressively.

‘I’ve got a good aerobic base and that’s my strength,’ he said.

*Lee Merrien just failed to make the 1,500 final after placing eighth.