A LACK of flight availability has been blamed for the cancellation of another netball inter-insular between Jersey and Guernsey.
The 2022 edition of the inter-island clash – the first planned since 2019 – was due to take place at Les Ormes on 21 and 22 May but Guernsey Netball Association officials have been unable to secure suitable transport.
It has been suggested that Aurigny initially offered the Sarnians charter flights for the weekend, but those plans were later withdrawn as a result of scheduled pilot training.
The weekend of 14-15 May – proposed by the GNA and their Jersey counterparts as an alternative – was also unfeasible, leaving Channel Islands netballers without their traditional season-ender for another year.
‘Guernsey have said that it’s not through a lack of trying on their part,’ said JNA president Linda Andrews.
‘They were given the “go-ahead” for a charter but Aurigny can’t do that now because they’re training their pilots.
‘We had everything booked and we were ready to rumble. We had three umpires from the UK booked, with flights and hotel. It’s really disappointing but it is what it is.
‘We did also look at going over to them instead, because the flights looked okay for us to get to them, but they couldn’t find a venue. I’m disappointed for the girls. It was going to be the finale of our year, after getting it all back up and running, but it looks like travel has caused the issue again.’
An Aurigny spokesperson confirmed that crew training is taking place on the dates in question, but said an initial charter quote was supplied only ‘subject to aircraft availability’.
