Junior European Cup...

[mharky]

...started today in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

A trio of British girls have headed out self-funded for some international experience.

http://www.jec2012.ch/

[Street]

Results can be found here: http://www.o-l.ch/

[DIDSCO]

is that race that was once the 6-Nations? Why isn't there an official British Junior Team out there? Shouldnt these races be the 2nd biggest highlight of the year for any top level junior and deserve some funding from the federation

[Gross]

deserve some funding from the federation

it's not community orienteering running around housing schemes

[mharky]

Aye, has been called JEC quite a while now, as open to everyone, but I think the hosts are still the 6-nations.

Would be great to have a full team out, but there just isn't any performance money.

[DIDSCO]

I ran that race plenty of times, and that was long before any performance money, we could send a full team then why can't we now?

[DIDSCO]

Actually its a disgrace there's no British junior team at the 6-nations. We helped create that competition and its always been a top class international racing experience for juniors - all our recent medallists have gained valuable experience at that race. Whats out there to motivate our elite juniors nowadays? Who at BOF is responsible for this decision?

[Lard]

Sarah Hague is responsible - she controls where the money goes to in the programme.

I was saddened that Sarah decided to move away from using JEC (the 6 Nations) last year - for me it was a great stepping stone introduction for young athletes on route to the following year's JWOC.

But, unfortunately, I don't run the squad. And my views weren't powerful enough.

The original 6 nations agree to host this competition in rotation - I hosted it on behalf of GB 3 years ago (BOF didn;t want to take it on). It will be due to come back to us in another 3 years time - I wonder what position GB orienteering will be in then - just two months after a home WOC - I would imagine most juniors will be pretty fired up from spectating....

There is no reason why the Regional Squads group couldn't take JEC under their umbrella and take a GB self-funded.organised team year on year.

I admire those athletes who have made personal efforts to get to it this year, well done to you.

[andy]

I hosted it on behalf of GB 3 years ago (BOF didn;t want to take it on). It will be due to come back to us in another 3 years time - I wonder what position GB orienteering will be in then - just two months after a home WOC - I would imagine most juniors will be pretty fired up from spectating....

Best time to host it. You certainly put JEC on with a handful of people so it's definitely doable.

[Becks]

It's something I would consider taking on if I was back. But won't know that for a while! When do these things usually get finalised Lard?

[Lard]

Becks, we usually know 2 years in advance and a delegate has to present bulletin one at the previous year's JEC (ie in 2014).
If you meant what about next year... well, I'm not sure where it is yet but the Edinburgh ladies who went this year wil know and I have tentatively agreed to look at getting a team and budget together for a 2013 team.....

[Becks]

Okay cool! Will bear it in mind when I try to figure out what happening in my life.

[DIDSCO]

"Sarah Hague's decision to move away from JEC (6-nations)"!

errr move away to what? I don't think any serious national junior team should be 'moving away' from the 2nd biggest junior international of the season.

If the 'programme' is what I found on the BOF website, then there's not much money because there's not much going on, so the question is wouldn't it better to go it alone like we did in the past.

Lard has probably been to more junior internationals than anybody else so I'd have thought his views would be worth listening to.....

[graeme]

Lard has probably been to more junior internationals than anybody else so I'd have thought his views would be worth listening to.....

Ouch. It's not really his fault all those junior internationals led to nothing as an adult Nor is that particularly unusual.
He is worth listening to.

[mharky]

I'm guessing Dids was referring to the 10+ years of junior international coaching.

Or were you being sarcastic?