ORGANISERS of the biggest athletics event ever seen in the island promise a star-studded occasion even if Dale Garland loses his race to be fit in time. Garland will have an operation to repair a groin problem next week, but is confident he will not be laid up for long and will quickly be on the road to full fitness.

But the GB international and multi island record-holder cannot be sure he will be on the start line when two of the giants of UK athletics, Birchfield Harriers and Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, take on the cream of the Channel Islands and guests at Foote’s Lane on bank holiday Monday 28 August.

‘It seems whenever a big Guernsey match comes around, I get injured,’ said Garland.

‘It’s not looking good for the 28th but hopefully the surgery goes well, it mends quickly and I can make a swift return. I don’t want to lose out.’

Supported by SportsGuernsey, the triangular match will feature numerous international athletes from two of the most powerful clubs in the country.

Woodford Green with Essex Ladies are the current Premiership leaders, Birchfield Harriers the national cup-holders.

Match manager Rob Batiste said yesterday it would be a blow to lose Dale, but by no means a disaster given the quality of athletes winging their way in.

‘I can promise that most of the island

all-comers’ records will be blown out of the water.

‘Both clubs have given assurances that they will field teams of a standard they would field in the Premiership,’ he added.

‘The potentially exciting news is that Kelly Sotherton is making all the right noises about making the Blue Islands Challenge Cup her final track appearance of a long season which started at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne where she took the gold in the heptathlon.

‘She is the Birchfield women’s captain and the club are taking the match very seriously – they don’t want to lose out to one of their big rivals.’

The news from Woodford Green is just as exciting.

‘Keith Hopeson, their men’s team manager, emailed me two days ago to say that they intended bringing over their best team and that includes those off to the European Championships with the British squad.

‘If that were to happen, then it would be amazing.

‘At the European trials the weekend before last there were five Woodford Green men in the semi-finals of the 100m, Tyrone Edgar was just pipped for gold and Tim Abeyie was also in the final.’

On top of the two UK clubs, GIAAC are digging deep to boost the event’s depth by bringing in up to 20 guest athletes, not to mention the best Jersey can offer, including new national under-23 javelin champion Lauren Therin.

‘Thanks to Kimberley Goodall’s contacts in Durham, we have eight quality athletes coming in from Gateshead, including AAAs 100m and 200m finalist, Susan Deacon, and Chris Kirk, the newly-crowned UK under-23 long jump champion.

‘Lee Merrien and Dale are also tapping into their many contacts and lining up more.

‘Over the next couple of weeks we hope to settle on the start lists and make some big announcements.’