Interland Selections 2010

[mallory]

We have noted that the Interland Selection Criteria includes 'all known form' alongside the Selection Races. Should we inform the selectors of our offspring's recent results so they are in 'the know' or leave it to them to look at recents events or ask? Thanks.

[Becks]

Unless you've run abroad and the kids have done really well, I would just leave it up to the selectors! They'll have all the UK results of events of a decent calibre to hand.

[Spookster]

We have noted that the Interland Selection Criteria includes 'all known form' alongside the Selection Races. Should we inform the selectors of our offspring's recent results so they are in 'the know' or leave it to them to look at recents events or ask? Thanks.

I think you should tell the selectors. You can't expect them to have the results of every race to hand, so it may be they haven't noticed your offspring running especially well wherever it was.

[Neil M40]

Selectors can be an unpredictable bunch so who knows? However it is normal for ‘All known form’ to be very much secondary to the specified selection races. No amount of brilliant results elsewhere is going to make up for poor performances when selection is on the line. If two candidates look pretty much equal on the selection races AKF might then be taken into account.

[Arnold]

I must admit I always chuckle when there's a discussion on Interland selections.

No offence to those taking part but it has to be the most meaningless international competition ever - pitting a region of 50m people (England) against regions of about 3m people, with the surprising result that England always wins...

There were fab rosettes as prizes last year, too.

Though I suppose it's nice to be selected for something even if it's meaningless. I get excited about winning the local street O events so I shouldn't really talk...

[Becks]

As a W14/M14 it's not at all meaningless! It's a fun and exciting trip away from home as part of a team, it's inspiring and definitely worth a trip to. It's great getting all the age classes together and a first taster of international competition. Okay, it's a bit blah when you're 21 and have spent your uni years racing all over Europe, but it's an awesome experience for a young orienteer.

And I don't think the results of every event really count for selections - only events of a decent level with a decent attendance, and there are precious few of those when we're talking about juniors these days. I really wouldn't pester the selectors with letters detailing 4th place in a SOL or beating XYZ at a colour coded (or whatever they're called these days) near Slough.

[Gross]

No offence to those taking part but it has to be the most meaningless international competition ever - pitting a region of 50m people (England) against regions of about 3m people, with the surprising result that England always wins...

Using that logic you'd expect England to be better than Sweden or Finland or Norway or Estonia or Latvia or Lithuania.... and the USA to be better than England.... oh.. and England to be better than Scotland

International competition is good for all involved producing incentives and motivation

[mallory]

Selections have been announced. Same names which is a shame for those who have improved considerably and would benefit from the experience.

[NeilC]

There is a good chance though that many of the selected team will not end up competing. Especially with FCC races and BNC on the same weekend.

[Billy Whizz]

Selections have been announced. Same names which is a shame for those who have improved considerably and would benefit from the experience.

This is the England team that is being selected, not a training tour, for 'experience', though it is excellent experience. Those who have 'improved considerably' need to do so faster than their peers, or their peers will continue to get selected, based on performance, not its derivative. The top three 14s and 16s are selected, based on the published selection criteria, and in the other classes it's the top one or two in every class. The junior reserves are normally invited to travel too, for the experience.

I agree it would be good to race against stronger nations. Suggestions with a draft budget would but this gives the best younger juniors the chance to race for their country against real foreigners (no offence Gross) and with sustained endeavour go on to greater things for Great Britain.

For some, particularly juniors and veterans, it also provides a substantive goal for the autumn season: gain selection for Interland; and a structure - the designated selection races. In every class from 14 to 60 it's harder to get selected for the England Interland team than for the England team in the Home Internationals so for those who are too young or too old to race for Great Britain,

Perhaps a contributor with experience of Interland, or with offspring who ran for England in Interland could offer a subjective view.

The selections are on the Orienteering England site at http://www.orienteeringengland.org.uk/

[Becks]

Billy, I thought I already did? As a Junior, Interland was excellent fun, inspiring, and good experience. Never underestimate the presence of "International" in the title to bring a whole new level of nerves and anxiety into the game. Even if it is "only Belgium."

[mharky]

Interland is a fantastic competition. For many juniors this is the first taste of international competition, at the age of 14 compared to EYOC for GBR which is 16/18.

England should rightly pick the best team of available athletes. They are not a charity, as BOF are not, some parents need to realise this. For most international competitions, trying hard or improving a lot isn't enough, you actually need to be good.

As for the quality of competition, in the junior classes it's higher than people think. And that's not what international experience is about. It's about experience of competing in a high-pressure situation, in a foreign country, on different terrain with different maps in a different orienteering culture. That is what you learn the most from. Some one has to win, and that usually tends to be the best orienteer, but that doesn't mean they aint learned anything from it. Thierry wins WOC middle pretty much every year, but it's not like he isn't getting experiece from it!

Another great aspect of the trip is it is from 14's all the way up to whatever the oldest group (I won't offend anyone by guessing what that is). You don't get this with any other comp. The atmosphere is great and it's a great chance for people to meet people who they only know as names at the top of the results board.

Arnold, who are you? Are you an international orienteer? Have you been to interland? Why don't you ask GG what he thinks about the competition. That is where he started off and now he has a WOC gold medal...

[Mrs H]

I agree that Interland is a great thing and fairly inclusive as well. Two of my children went though neither was in the then Start Squad so it wasn't just a case of the usual suspects because selection was a lot less esoteric.

The practice of taking the reserves gives those bubbling under the experience of international competition and is so inclusive infact that on one occasion Young Neville travelled even though he hadn't been attempting to get selected

As others have said - the team spirit across the age ranges is fantastic by all accounts (well they both fondly remember Arthur's badger sandwiches anyway )

[Tatty]

Badger sandwiches Ian still talks of a marmite sandwich eating competition he had with Andy Powell. I think they ate over 20 each

[King Penguin]

Badger sandwiches Ian still talks of a marmite sandwich eating competition he had with Andy Powell. I think they ate over 20 each

... and another Iain recalls an eating contest with Arthur. I understand it was declared an honourable draw when the kitchen ran out of food.