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!
