ARRANGEMENTS for inter-island travel are “not good enough”, according to the politicians with responsibility for sport – ahead of a major weekend of clashes with opponents from Guernsey.
While cricketers, golfers and rugby players will lock horns in inter-insular battles today and tomorrow, many spectators have been unable to travel to watch their teams in action, and one sport was forced to scrap planned fixtures between island rivals.
The early cessation of the summer ferry service provided by Islands Unlimited due to technical issues led to the cancellation of the softball inter-insular and left other organising bodies scrambling to make suitable arrangements.
Jersey Rugby Club will host Guernsey Raiders this afternoon in the first league encounter between the Siam rivals for more than 30 years, Farmers Cricket Club will entertain Cobo CC from Guernsey in the Channel Island League final and in Guernsey the men’s and women’s golfers from the two islands will be in action.
Senator Serena Kersten, who took on an assistant ministerial role with responsibility for sport following the election earlier this year, told the JEP she was disappointed that few supporters would be able to make the trip.
“These fixtures are an opportunity for local sport to be showcased, to get the sponsors out, to engage with supporters, and after all the effort that goes into setting them up it goes a bit flat,” she said. “It’s not good enough, and it’s something we need to look at – I know [Economic Development Minister] Gerald Voisin is very passionate about tackling this as well.”
Former politician Jim Perchard, who will host today’s cricket final at Farmers CC, described the current situation as “unacceptable” in a social media post.
Last weekend, the Jersey Softball Association and its Guernsey counterpart said the fixtures planned for today would not go ahead.
“We have been unable to identify a viable alternative travel option that would allow the fixtures to go ahead,” the JSA stated. “We know this will be disappointing for the players, teams and supporters who were looking forward to the games.
“Both associations will now work hard to find a suitable new date in spring 2027, when we hope to bring everyone together for another fantastic inter-island contest.”
Last weekend’s cricket inter-insular saw the Guernsey squad switching at short notice to an Aurigny flight for their morning journey to Jersey and then taking RIB charters for the return leg after the match.
