Tom Druce storms to 800m gold in Rhodes. He is looking for a 400-800 double in Aland. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0456578)

TOM DRUCE is in the ideal shape to fulfil his list of Aland ambitions.

The 22-year-old Bath-based Sarnian ran a big season’s best of 47.4sec. over 400m at the weekend in finishing second at the Southern Championships in Watford. It was in far from ideal conditions and he hopes such form will translate into gold medals at the Island Games, at which he is looking for a 400m and 800m double.

‘The 400m is my main event now and it would be a shame not to get an Island Games title in it at some stage,’ Druce said.

‘In the 800m I am going for a hat-trick [having won in Shetland and Rhodes] and this might be my last chance of success over that distance as I will be concentrating on 400m in future.

‘I am not really thinking about times, especially in the 800 because in that length of race you just see how it pans out and play it as it comes.

‘In the 400, it would be nice to set a PB, but you don’t know what the conditions will be and at the end of the day it is about the medals when it comes to the Island Games.’

His chances in his preferred event have also been boosted by the absence of the reigning champion, a certain Dale Garland.

‘As a team we are going to miss him, although in the 400 it just opens a door for myself,’ Druce said.

‘As for the relay, without Dale we are losing quite a lot of time which we will need to make up and I will be looking to do my fair share of that because I have actually never lost a 4×400 at the Island Games.’

That instantly brings back memories of the amazing final in Rhodes when, due to some confusion, Druce ended up on the last leg, taking over the baton from Garland rather than vice-versa, and bringing the Sarnian quartet home to victory.

‘It was about 10 minutes before the race that we found out [the running order].

‘As it turned out, it went well, so I assume I will probably be on the last leg again.’

That is not the only responsibility Druce plans to take on.

‘Myself and some of the more experienced athletes will be speaking to the younger guys during the week to kind of mentor them through the Games.

‘With some of the usual suspects missing, it gives a chance to young guys and girls to gain experience. They might not be pushing for medals this time, but in two or four years hopefully they will be in the best position to do so.’

Druce is meeting his teammates in Aland as he is due to compete in a Grand Prix in Sweden this evening.