Selections

[Scott]

Amongst all the bus-related excitement, BOF have snuck out a few international selections - for the World Games and pre-WOC camp. There are a couple of names in the latter list which might be slightly unexpected. Personally, I'm glad to see the selectors looking outside the current squad... Thoughts?

World Games
Scott Fraser
Graham Gristwood
Sarah Rollins
Pippa Whitehouse

Pre-WOC training camp
Scott Fraser
Graham Gristwood
Oli Johnson
Dan Marston
Matt Speake
Helen Bridle
Rachael Elder
Sarah Rollins
Jo Stevenson
Pippa Whitehouse

[harry]

Hooray for Dan. A few years ago there was a headline in one of those post WOC brochures "Dan the Man" after his long distance in Switzerland. He also has a WOC medal but for whatever reasons has been left out of the GB fold for a few years, despite performing well in Scandi. Last year he came back in the top 10 on first leg of Tio Mila and usually has a few impressive results like that every year.

Jo Stevenson is also really talented. Over the last 5 or so years she has pulled out really great relay runs for SNO time after time, she's a better record in those relays than any other British woman (OK maybe heather/yvette?). She is also hard core for completing the Vasaloppet open track a couple of months ago. I'm glad to see xc ski training pays off! The international relays are a bit different than the big Scandi relays obviously but anyway she's a really great relay runner -didn't she come back first on Monday too? And we need a better women's relay team!

Also it can be tough coming over to the UK and pulling it out in just a handful of races, Stephen Palmer warned me last year the longer you live in Scandi the more disconnected you become from British type orienteering so it can be tough to go back and race well there. Dan & Jo have had this situation for years now and I guess it's the same abilities you need to go and race well internationally.

I think the terrain in Hungary will suit them both as well.

[mharky]

I'm not suprised one bit by those selections, top stuff. Good luck to them.

[DIDSCO]

It's nice to be able to say it looks like a very strong mens team without Jamie and Jon in it, good stuff. And good job Oli and Scott last weekend, looks like they're in really good shape.