Portugal O Meet

[Gross]

Just looked ar POM results & can see very few GBR runners in the main elite classes (Scott & Oli were in results). Why is this? POM used to be the start of the season providing a great warmup race after a hard weeks warm weather training.... do the GBR elite not travel as much as in the past????

[greywolf]

Look harder!
Matt Speake 1st on M21E (Scott & OJ on M21 SuperElite, seeded by world ranking I think)
Helen Palmer, Rachel Rothman and Charlotte Watson on W21E
Florence Haines 3rd on W20

A lot of the UK elite have been at SEDS training weekends recently (and upcoming)

EDIT: maybe they're all saving up for the summer, since it appears that events such as the European Championships will be on a self-help basis

[madmike]

increasing cost of travel combined with less funds given to support them perhaps. doesn't fit in with their plans forthe year - who knows

Speakie was there too, winning on 21 E and a few of our top ladies plus some of the promising juniors too. Edit: Greywolf beat me to it.

[Gross]

Look harder!

I saw these guys & dolls.... that's what promted my post... so few GBR athlets running!

[ba-ba]

Kris Jones on 21E as well. Northrop and Baker about, Laura Daniel was well.
I presume some others are taking part in training camps/have been on recent camps/have training camps planned in the near future (gg, Tess), targeting XC champs (Murray), are stuck into Uni work or can't afford another week off work after having to look after the sprogs during half term last week.

Then there's the saving up for self-help later in the year.

I thought POM only became the season opener a couple of years ago - before then it was spring cup.

[Gross]

I thought POM only became the season opener a couple of years ago - before then it was spring cup.

POM was attracting the top elites since day 1 in the mid '90s.... and for a couple of years before that as the Mafra O Meet.... Spring Cup was a big race in it's own right... POM was a great warm up race after a warm weather camp....