World Schools Selection

[Rookie]

For Belgium 2004 I was trying to get a team capable of going as a school - OK we didn't get it but I did get another person interested in O for a while (and I did make sure he did the 3 previous events - and he counted in the team at BSOC that year).

My opinion is that the select team should be the best but encouraging people to enter a full team is a good idea - three Ulverston teams going two times in a row because we put in full teams - if more schools put in full teams then they might stop us next time (congrats to Kingswood in junior boys)

[Lizi Beee]

I agree with babybel, when i got a couple of my friends to help me out last time round (my first and only chance as i was too old this year) yes it was a real bribe to initially get them out, but in the end they really enjoyed it, they may not have done so well but for Bex it was the first proper sports thing she'd ever participated in (yes she did do the mandatory 3 events before hand and i dragged her to lyme park from some training) and she was so chuffed because at the end of the day we got 3rd y11 girls team...
so it may start as a rent-a-mate but it can help participation...

[Guest]

Does she still orienteer?

[CHS]

I have found it really tricky to introduce people from school to orienteering. The younger ones mostly have other commitments football /dancing / swimming on a Saturday morning for introductory events and the older ones work on Saturday jobs.

This year I've run a club for Y5s for half an hour in a lucnhtime, they've enjoyed it and I have had at least two who have attended events independently after the British schools for which I had given them information about but with no further input.

[jasper]

Mrs H,

I have to agree for once with you I cant understand the reason why CH was not selected for the junior girls. She has attended nearly every major event this year including the British Schools Score Champs where she finished on the podium whereas CB has hardly attended any of the major events this year and has shown poor form at the events she did attend.

I also have another gripe as a hard working parent concerning the price we have to pay to get our kids to this event. If I was to book the flights to Slovakia now it would cost £20 and having visted the country before I know the price of food, accomodation and beer is about 1/4 of the price of many of the EU countries.

My last point is that we should send the best team that we have to win GOLD. I don't agree with these namby pamby left wingers who always winge about competition, competitive spirit and will to win.

[Guest]

Jasper - So how much is it likely to cost?

[Babybel]

Correct me if I'm wrong since I haven't seen the selection policy but is the team not selected solely on results of the British Schools and the World School's selection race. Therefore making all other events irrelavant?

[jasper]

£500 for a week

[Guest]

Well that's a lot less than last time and they only went to Belgium then!

[Babybel]

i think it was £800 for portugal, parents are not the only source of money-i certainly did a fair amount of fundraising for it.

[Guest]

Selection for select teams will be based on the 2 qualifying races. Other form may be considered, but will only be used where selectors feel unable to make a decision based on the qualifying races. If so, only the Aire National event on 10th September and the Regional event on 6th Nov in the New Forest will be used.(These are both Interland selection races as well)

[RJ]

Sorry folks but I find all of this rather unpleasant. There is a committee, a group of people, who make the decisions on who constitutes the team. If you have a beef with the selections then email them and have your say. This is a public forum and could do without bitter self interest.

Those who have missed out on selection will feel very disappointed. Time to say hard luck... better luck next time. Those who have been chosen will be over the moon.... the rant on this thread will certainly help them to continue feeling that way.... not!

Congratulations to all those going to Pezinok for the World Schools' Championships next year. Give your best and enjoy..... I fully support your selection and wish you all the very best... good luck.

[jasper]

no i believe i paid approx £400 for my daughter to go to Belgium.

By the way I'm also sending my daughter on a school skiing trip to the USA which is costing me just over £800 and for that they get full ski hire, full training, ski passes, good quality accomodation and food (massive big MACs whereas in Slovakia you'll be lucky to get a scrawny pork or chicken snitzel at the best. Albeit the Big Mac is more likely contaminated by hormone injected meat and genetically modified vegetables in the salad).

Also be aware the scrawny aneamic looking Czech and Slovak kids will be putting out there best team and as in the Junior European Championship will kick arse and win everything. So we will be foolish to send kids who have had the minimum experience and o training.

[Guest]

[i]Selection will be based on two events: the British Schools Orienteering Championships (BSOC), and a Special Qualification Event (SQE), to be held the day before the BSOC.

[/i]

[i]Selection for select teams will be based on the 2 qualifying races. Other form may be considered, but will only be used where selectors feel unable to make a decision based on the qualifying races. If so, only the Aire National event on 10th September and the Regional event on 6th Nov in the New Forest will be used.(

[/i]
Aggregating the times from the two races (ISQ & BSOC)establishes the consistency required in the BSOA ISSFOC selections

[jasper]

the point is that CB turns up to an event for once for the special seleciton race and doesnt do very well as it's more technical. then does the british schools champs race the next day which is no more than a glorified orange course and comes 2nd.