Time for a little banterous speculation
The official selection procedure allowed for pre-selections after JK and then again after WC2. I'm assuming there were no significantly outstanding results at the World Cup for further pre-selections, so all we have so far are:
Scott (Sprint), GG (Long), Hollie (Middle) and Cat (Long).
I think GBR's best medal hope is in one of the relays and so that's my main interest. It will be very interesting to see which men make it for the Sprint Relay. I assume Scott will be in, so which of Kris and Murray will miss out? Or will there be a surprise? I guess the women will be Hollie and Cat as at the World Cup.
The forest relay teams are harder to predict. Will Hector's fantastic performance at Jukola get him into the team? Here's my predictions:
Men: Hector, GG, Scott.
Women: Hollie, Claire, Cat.
The individual disciplines get even harder (except for the pre-selections). I think Spongey's performances are impossible to ignore and I'd have him in the Long, along with Doug and GG. Charlotte Watson is making a good case for inclusion as well. Speakie will be thereabouts and Ralph too.
So as an opening gambit, here are my predictions:
Long: GG, Doug, Spongey. Cat, Charlotte Watson, Claire.
Middle: GG, Ralph, Speakie. Hollie, Jess, Cat.
Sprint: Scott, Murray, Kris. Ruth, Charlotte Ward, Cat.
What do Nopers think? Too many races for Cat?
Obviously this is just early banter. The final selection races in July will hopefully make the selector's job straightforward. Good luck to all the contenders. Keep on training. The Great British public are all behind you!
WOC team selection banter
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Re: WOC team selection banter
I agree with your sprint relay team thoughts. I just hope they make the Kris/Murray choice before WOC itself, they can't base it on the sprint qualifier and the relay is before the individual. I'd say Murray edges it on previous performances + familiarity with Scottish town sprints, but form and final preparations will come into it - hard to tell at this stage, they're quite evenly matched.
Would love to see Claire and Jess in the team, Claire's got the history of results to back up the fact she's running well, and Jess has had a great season so far. I don't think anyone should be running all 5 disciplines, so Cat for long and sprint.
The men's teams are harder to sort I think, keen to see Scott run in a forest - whichever terrain he is strongest in between darnaway/affric. If he's not done enough rough tough Scottish forest training then middle at darnaway. Hector's proved he's going well, selection races will be crucial as you say.
I'd love to see Hollie run the individual sprint but I think Ruth and Charlotte (Ward) deserve to be there along with Cat
Long: GG, Doug, Spongey. Cat, Jess, Claire.
Middle: GG, Hector, Scott. Hollie, Jess, Claire.
Sprint: Scott, Murray, Kris. Ruth, Charlotte Ward, Cat.
I like your forest relay teams
Relay Men: Hector, GG, Scott.
Relay Women: Hollie, Claire, Cat.
Would love to see Claire and Jess in the team, Claire's got the history of results to back up the fact she's running well, and Jess has had a great season so far. I don't think anyone should be running all 5 disciplines, so Cat for long and sprint.
The men's teams are harder to sort I think, keen to see Scott run in a forest - whichever terrain he is strongest in between darnaway/affric. If he's not done enough rough tough Scottish forest training then middle at darnaway. Hector's proved he's going well, selection races will be crucial as you say.
I'd love to see Hollie run the individual sprint but I think Ruth and Charlotte (Ward) deserve to be there along with Cat
Long: GG, Doug, Spongey. Cat, Jess, Claire.
Middle: GG, Hector, Scott. Hollie, Jess, Claire.
Sprint: Scott, Murray, Kris. Ruth, Charlotte Ward, Cat.
I like your forest relay teams
Relay Men: Hector, GG, Scott.
Relay Women: Hollie, Claire, Cat.
Andrew Dalgleish (INT)
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Re: WOC team selection banter
I don't know for sure but Scott was conspicuous in his absence at the WC MSR. Could it be because he's focusing heavily on an individual sprint medal and doesn't want an MSR to get in the way?
He's in the running for a relay spot (good history, like GG) but would like to see him race in Scottish terrain before solidifying that thought.
You can't deny the third spot in the men's relay is pretty open currently - Hector, Ralph, Jonesey, Doug.... I could go on...
What we have to be aware of when looking at the individual discipline places is that we have been lucky to be awarded 3 spots in each this year (as WOC hosts). In order to retain this number next year we will have to select our very best chances of top end results this year. Which should rule out any picks determined as an "experience-earning" spot. WCs and Euromeeting would be the right place to offer these...
He's in the running for a relay spot (good history, like GG) but would like to see him race in Scottish terrain before solidifying that thought.
You can't deny the third spot in the men's relay is pretty open currently - Hector, Ralph, Jonesey, Doug.... I could go on...
What we have to be aware of when looking at the individual discipline places is that we have been lucky to be awarded 3 spots in each this year (as WOC hosts). In order to retain this number next year we will have to select our very best chances of top end results this year. Which should rule out any picks determined as an "experience-earning" spot. WCs and Euromeeting would be the right place to offer these...
From small acorns great Oak trees grow.
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Lard - diehard
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Re: WOC team selection banter
I think Scott will be focussed on one goal;
going one better than the Silver medal that he already holds
going one better than the Silver medal that he already holds
If you could run forever ......
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Kitch - god
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Re: WOC team selection banter
Kitch wrote:I think Scott will be focussed on one goal;
going one better than the Silver medal that he already holds
Which he may well have an equal or better chance of achieving in the sprint relay? Either way, Kris and Murray are more than capable of holding their own in the sprint relay field so there won't be a selection issue, all going well.
Andrew Dalgleish (INT)
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Re: WOC team selection banter
Note that the programme goes:
Friday - Sprint Qualifier
Saturday - Mixed Sprint Relay
Sunday - Sprint Final
It will be interesting to see whether any serious contenders for individual sprint medals (from GBR or elsewhere) decide that a day off between the qualifier and the final might be better preparation than three back-to-back days of racing.
Friday - Sprint Qualifier
Saturday - Mixed Sprint Relay
Sunday - Sprint Final
It will be interesting to see whether any serious contenders for individual sprint medals (from GBR or elsewhere) decide that a day off between the qualifier and the final might be better preparation than three back-to-back days of racing.
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"If only you were younger and better..."
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Scott - god
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Re: WOC team selection banter
Lard wrote: 3 spots in each this year (as WOC hosts). In order to retain this number next year
Only the top two finishers count for promotion out of division 2. So from that viewpoint this is the best possible time for letting people run for experience. Not that I think you ever should pick anything other than the best team...
The girls have a decent chance of getting back into Division 1 (and then all three scores count to stave off immediate relegation in 2016). The boys need a miracle. But it may all become moot if the IOF change WOC again into the forest / urban split.
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Re: WOC team selection banter
https://twitter.com/scotiafraser/status ... 4772760576
Guess that's settled then.
Wonder if Scott's decision will cause a rethink for any other teams?
Guess that's settled then.
Wonder if Scott's decision will cause a rethink for any other teams?
Andrew Dalgleish (INT)
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Re: WOC team selection banter
Scott wrote:Note that the programme goes:
Friday - Sprint Qualifier
Saturday - Mixed Sprint Relay
Sunday - Sprint Final
It will be interesting to see whether any serious contenders for individual sprint medals (from GBR or elsewhere) decide that a day off between the qualifier and the final might be better preparation than three back-to-back days of racing.
Anyone know what the rationale behind this structure was? Is it for TV / spectators / terrain permissions?
I'd have expected either
Qual/Final/Relay
or
Relay/Qual/Final
as the best chance to ensure the best orienteers participate in the Relay
JK
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Re: WOC team selection banter
Original programme had MS Relay on Saturday, then sprint Quali+Final on Sunday. There were some complaints from the athletes that this was too concentrated, and with all the TV/access arrangements for the finals in place, the lower-key qualifier was the only movable thing.
Next question is whether our other sprinters agree that 3 races in 3 days is too much. I'm guessing they wont...
Next question is whether our other sprinters agree that 3 races in 3 days is too much. I'm guessing they wont...
Last edited by graeme on Thu Jun 18, 2015 11:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Re: WOC team selection banter
graeme wrote:Original programme had MS Relay on Saturday, then sprint Quali+Final on Sunday. There were some complaints from the athletes that this was too concentrated, and with all the TV/access arrangements for the finals in place, the lower-key qualifier was the only movable thing.
Ah, so "Hysterical" reasons then.
JK
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Re: WOC team selection banter
JK wrote:Anyone know what the rationale behind this structure was? Is it for TV / spectators / terrain permissions?
Well originally it was sprint relay Saturday, sprint qualifier Sunday morning, sprint final Sunday evening...
Purely speculation but my guess is that a combination of some or all of these factors was responsible:
*Nairn is in HIghland, and was selected as a race venue and location for the opening ceremony to keep Highland Council happy - they'd agreed to part-fund WOC and then most of the races got moved to Moray
*Town centre sprint venues need road closures which are easier to implement at the weekend
*It was assumed that 6-day competitors will head home immediately after saturday's race and would not stay onto spectate if, say, the sprint or sprint relay final were on Saturday 8th August (it is however assumed that they will all travel early to watch on Saturday 1st)
*Having the sprint races together was thought to make attending WOC easier for some smaller O-nations who can just turn up for the "sprint weekend"
*The organising team were really keen to make sure that the clash with WMOC was as thorough as possible
The interests of the athletes come a very long way down the order of priorities...
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greywolf - addict
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Re: WOC team selection banter
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Lard - diehard
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