Fixtures for the forthcoming season were released this week and the Ansbacher CIAC men face five rounds of matches, the women and under-15 girls six.Winnie, Jersey’s athletics development officer, is also gunning for an improved performance by the club’s mixed senior team who having won the nationwide Golden Jubilee Plate in 2002 failed to make the final in 2003.’I don’t want us to make the same mistake as last year.
Too many athletes took it for granted we’d make the final and were not available for the semi-final.’On the face of it the club should be stronger in all departments this season.The men, who start their campaign at Deangate on 1 May, have a squad capable of squashing the opposition out of sight, but commitment to the cause is the key and the throws department still looks a bit bare.’We are definitely going to be short of throwers,’ said Winnie, adding that with the prospect of better opposition Guernsey’s wealth of distance runners will be needed to prop up the team.The CIAC men look particularly strong in the sprints and jumps and, invariably, have a trump card in Dale Garland who admirably puts himself out and competes in matches well below his status.
The elevation of Jersey’s Paul Dingle into the under-17 ranks means greater strength in the lateral jumps and with fellow juniors Mark Mercier and Stephen Prosser having made big strides in the winter months prospects look good for the squad.The women’s team face a massive task to establish themselves in the top flight, but Winnie is sure they can handle competing against some of the best athletes across the ages in the south of England.’It’s going to be tough, yet the object is to remain in the top 16.’I’m sure they are quite capable of it, although we do have a few weak spots in the team having lost the likes of Claire Lidster and Tara Murphy.’What we are looking for is a few new under-15s to step up and replace those moving into the under-17 ranks.’Among those are the Guernsey trio of Laura Arblaster, Gemma Mauger and Kelly Magee and Jersey Spartans’ Courtney Williams, Stephanie Le Cornu and Lauren Devine.As under-17s, all six will be eligible for senior competition, a situation Kylie Robilliard found herself in last season and more than coped with.Robilliard’s emergence as a high-quality performer gives Winnie additional cover and eases the loss of Jersey’s star performer Lidster, who seems to have retired after defending her Island Games sprint hurdles and 400m hurdles titles last summer.England’s top under-17 hurdler may test herself over the full barrier height and extra 20m this summer and there is no reason to imagine she will struggle.Much is also expected of Erica Bodman, one of the best young high jump talents in the country and no mean performer either in the 400m.Winnie expects the massive Windsor, Slough, Eton and Harrow team to be the squad to beat, while Herne Hill Harriers and Team Solent also promise to be strong.’I’d hate to put pressure on the women, but I think we can finish in the top half-dozen.
They are good enough.’
