Glenn Etherington’s move to Guernsey from Exeter is a big boost for the CIAC club. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0778003)

THE three most talented runners in the island will be missing as a new season of British League athletics gets under way this weekend.

Dale Garland, Lee Merrien and Tom Druce both give the opening match for Sportingbet Channel Islands AC a miss.

Garland and Druce are competing at an invitational event in Europe so will miss the Division Four meeting, while Merrien rarely dons the CIAC vest.

However, CIAC coach Andrew Winnie believes he still has plenty of quality in the squad for the match in Pitreavie, Scotland.

The team includes young hurdler Leo Rice, who will get his first taste of competition at national level, while steeplechaser Lee Garland, who was unavailable for the league campaign last year due to injury, makes a welcome return, and experienced 5,000m runner Steve Dawes also makes the trip.

Former Exeter Harrier Glenn Etherington will make his first appearance in Sportingbet CIAC colours, when he lines up in the sprint hurdles.

In the women’s squad, 3,000-metre runner Louise Perrio will be the only Guernsey representative in the team which competes in Stevenage tomorrow.