DON BATISTE is hoping that it will be third time lucky as he makes another attempt to become a British champion.  The island champion contests the British Isles Championships, which takes place at Llandrindod Wells in Wales from tomorrow.

Batiste (pictured) has competed twice before, once in the fours competition and last year as a pair.  On both occasions, he fell short of the final. Last year, he and Richard Nash lost 22-15 in a tight match against the Welsh. He hopes that this is finally his year.

After receiving a bye straight into the semi-final, he will come up against Scotland, represented by Sandy Wotherspoon. And Batiste, a former Muratti footballer, admits that his opponent is an unknown prospect. ‘I’ve never met him [Wotherspoon] before, and I have no idea of how he plays or how good he is.

‘It completely depends on how we both perform on the day, but I’m confident that I can win if I bowl at my best,’ he said.