JERSEY has named its ten-strong team for this weekend’s Challenge Trophy golf inter-insular in Guernsey – and Trevor Grey is missing for the first time in 31 years!

The Royal Jersey man has been dropped while his club colleague Robbie Messervy is back after three years in the wilderness.

But Gray says he’s not disappointed at all.

‘It was a conscious decision on my part not to play in the selection tournaments,’ he said.

‘I love to play for the Island side but I decided not to play in the Island majors this season but to play in European tournaments to try to raise my standard.

‘I also had to devote a lot of time to my new golf range at Longueville.

So I didn’t expect to be picked – I didn’t try to get in.

I’ve also been troubled by a back injury which hasn’t helped.

But I wish the team all the best and hope they come back with the trophy.

‘I’d love to get back next year – but my priority will still be to get away to play in Europe.’ Rob Leader, one of the three Island selectors, explained: ‘Trevor’s absence shows the high standard of golf in the Island now.

There were 15 or so players in the frame for ten places so there will be others who will be disappointed.

‘It’s been a tough job.

But we feel we’ve picked the strongest team we can.’ He also paid tribute to Messervy.

‘He’s worked really hard and now he’s playing some of the best golf of his career,’ he said.

Six of the team are Royal Jersey men – James Birch, Paul Le Chevalier, Christy McLaughlin, Gavin O’Neill, Matthew Parkman and Messervy.

The other four – Andy Boxall, Andy Clarke and Geoff and Richard Ramskill – are from La Moye.

And Leader is confident they can retain the trophy they won at home last year.

He said: ‘On paper we’ve got the strongest team – we’ve got five players off scratch or better.

We’ve only won twice in Guernsey in 23 years but given the strength of the team this time we’re quietly confident we’ll come back with the trophy.’