A YOUNG swimming team has been chosen to represent Jersey in this summer’s NatWest Island Games.

With the team going through a rebuilding process there are only four out of 14 swimmers who have been to the Games before but team manager Neil Faudemer does not see this as a problem.

Now he is looking for the four to lend their experience to the 12 newcomers who, he says, have achieved qualification for the team on their own merits.

‘Swimming qualification is a long and committed process that has been going on since October last year,’ said Faudemer.

‘The young swimmers have worked extremely hard to achieve their places at Rhodes and although I do not expect the very high levels of success from a medal perspective as at previous games I know that the team will give of its very best and I think we could see a few surprises.’ One surprise in the team announcement is that top medal hope Simon Le Couilliard has not been named after failing to gain the qualifying times over the short rather than the long pool length.

The multiple gold medal winner’s appeal to be included was rejected.

‘Not having Simon as part of the team is a big blow but he was unfortunately unable to fulfil the qualification criteria,’ said Faudemer, adding: ‘I wish him well at the forthcoming British Championships.’ Despite this setback, Tigers’ Daniel Hawksworth has been named and after coming away from Shetland in 2005 with five individual medals he will be in strong contention to add to his collection – as will Shetland medallists Sarah-Jane Smith and Rosie Barrett.

Meanwhile, Katie Speller must be a strong favourite to be in with a chance of medals after a fantastic year of success and record breaking.

Team: Sarah Jane Smith (Tigers), Katie Speller (JSC), Emma Glendening (Tigers), Ebony Jacklin (Tigers), Rosie Barrett (Tigers), Jemma Carter (JSC), Iona Richardson (JSC), Danielle de Bourcier (Tigers); Daniel Halksworth, Ian Black, JJ Gallichan, Sam Fernandes, Andrew Blake, Michael Le Couillard (All Tigers).