OLYMPIC athlete and Sportingbet Channel Islands Athletics Club star runner Dale Garland has said his team have a good chance of winning this weekend’s national meet.

The club will be fielding its strongest men’s side so far this season for the third British Athletics League Division Four competition at Mayesbrook Park in Havering, near Romford.

The men currently reside at the bottom of the table, one point behind Coventry Godiva and eight adrift of league leaders Yeovil Olympiads with two matches to go.

The team includes former Exeter Harrier Glen Etherington as well as Dale and Lee Garland, Leo Rice and Zane Duquemin, among other big hitters.

But Guernsey 400m and 800m runner, and Island Games triple gold medallist Tom Druce, will again be absent.

Dale Garland believes however that the team has the strength to gain full points this weekend.

‘Although we will miss Tom Druce we have the strength and depth to win.

‘We have a very strong A string for the majority of events and will be aiming for a number one finish, which is a necessity if we are to notch up enough points to stay in this competition.

‘We stand a very good chance of topping the table this time round,’ he said.

The Sportingbet CIAC women will also need to be on top form as they go into their final UK Women’s Athletics League Division Four meet in Gateshead.

They are also at the bottom of their league and require a strong finish to the season to get off the bottom spot and avoid relegation.

Guernsey’s Island Games gold medal winning sprint hurdler Kylie Robilliard, and long distance runner Louise Perrio will be looking to make their mark in the squad, which is dominated by Jersey athletes.

Jersey’s Gemma Dawkins has performed well this season and will be looking to add to the performances which got her three gold medals in Aland.

Sportingbet CIAC coach Andrew Winnie said the women have all to play for going in to the last match of the league.

‘They are only half a point behind Gateshead, and one and a half behind Aldershot, Farnham and District, so there if they produce a strong performance they can definitely get themselves some points.

‘They have what it takes to finish above their closest rivals but it won’t be easy,’ he said.

Both CIAC teams saw their hopes of a good league placing hit by a clash with the Island Games.British League: Sportingbet CIAC teams need good results