THREE Jersey sports teams have been picked for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March.

Two athletes and three triathletes plus a 12-strong lawn bowls side have been named following a Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey council meeting.

There are no surprises with the athletics and triathlon selections as the five competitors with the qualifying criteria have been known for some time.

But selecting the bowls squad – reduced to a maximum of six men and six ladies for the first time – was probably a harder task as the Island is blessed with many excellent performers.

Island representatives in badminton, cycling, shooting and swimming have yet to be announced.

The eventual size of the Jersey party is expected to be around 60, although around 20 of them will be team managers and officials.

Discus and javelin thrower Laura Thérin and high jumper Simon Phelan – an Irish teenager who has recently obtained his British passport to qualify – will travel with athletics team manager Andrew Winnie, the Jersey athletics development officer.

And Paul Clements, Tim Rogers and Scott Pitcher will be the triathletes, managed by Gary Jones, who missed out on his role as general team manager of the Jersey Island Games team in Shetland through ill health this summer.

The men’s bowls squad is Allan Quémard, Angus McKinnon, Derek Boswell, Lee Nixon, John Lowery, Alan Shaw and manager/reserve Peter Le Long.

The ladies will be represented by Karina Bisson, Sue Dingle, Gaynor Thomas, Gina Le Long, Gean O’Neil, Chris Grimes and manager/reserve Sheila McGinnigle.

The squad has also found a main team sponsor in Marks and Spencer Jersey who have the option of a further four-year sponsorship leading up to the 2010 Games in Delhi.

The details of the deal have not been announced.

This deal, together with smaller donations from a charitable trust company, the Royal Bank of Canada and the Education, Sport and Culture Committee mean that most of the financial aspects of participating in Melbourne have now been resolved.

Preparations for the Games will include, for the first time, a minimum of two team-building sessions.

General team manager is Paul Huddlestone.