Garland to fly in today

Wednesday 1st July 2009, 2:29PM BST.

HAVING ruled himself out weeks ago, Dale Garland is set to compete at the Island Games after all.

Guernsey athletics team management confirmed this morning he is being flown to Aland today by private jet in time to compete in the 4 x 400m relay heats and final, an event in which Guernsey are the defending champions.

Who the mystery aircraft owner is would not be revealed by GIAAC team management and Garland was unavailable for comment this morning.

Geoff King, one of the sport’s two team managers at the Games, said that Garland’s shock appearance will give the island’s 400 relay squad an ideal opportunity to achieve the 2010 Commonwealth Games qualifying time they were seeking.