BOTH islands will be missing a handful of their big guns at this weekend’s track and field inter-insular at Foote’s Lane. But with Dale Garland still recovering from surgery and Lee Merrien also injured, Jersey have their best chance in a long while to win the prestigious Montague Burton Trophy.

Garland has been something of a one-man team in recent times, last year competing in a whole range of individual events and the relays.

His absence will leave a big void, says GIAAC president Rob Batiste, who expects it to be close in both the men’s and women’s matches.

‘We don’t have our two best athletes in Dale and Lee and a few more of our 2003 Island Games team are unavailable, but the good news is that we are stronger in the throws than we have been for some while,’ he said.

‘Alan Rowberry is up for his first inter-insular and will take some beating in the javelin and James Menhenitt will score a lot of points across the throws.’

Garland’s absence means a bit of juggling around in the track events, with Tom Druce being switched to the sprints where the home side hopes he can pick up wins in the 100 and 200.

Druce also goes in the 400 where he faces a stern test from teammate Nathan Stevens and the Jersey duo, Peter Irving and Will Perchard.

Guernsey expect to hold the upper hand in everything from 800m upwards, despite Merrien’s absence and also that of the injured Tim Coates and Alan Rowe.

The women’s match, dominated by Jersey in recent years, promises to be intriguingly close although the home team go into it without three of their best athletes in Kylie Robilliard, Kimberley Gleeson and Kimberley Goodall.

‘Jersey haven’t got Lauren Therin who will be badly missed,’ said Batiste.

‘She normally wins all four throws and with her not around it could be that our Gemma Tingay will dominate. I hope so.’

Despite the absence of Robilliard and Gleeson, the two quickest women in the CI over 100m, Laura Arblaster does compete and will be favourite to win the 100, 200 and perhaps the 400.

Guernsey hope to win back the overall trophy which embraces all the age groups from under-13s up to seniors.

‘So far the overall trophy has swung back and forth between the islands and I’m confident the trend will continue,’ said Batiste.

‘We have far greater depth to our junior teams this year and that’s down to the excellent recruitment work of Lee [Merrien] and Dale.’

* TOMORROW sees the seniors share the limelight with the under-11s and colts in a match that starts at 12.30pm.

Sunday is an afternoon match between the respective under-17 and under-13 squads. That also starts at 12.30.