Junior selections

[Mrs H]

are up on the BOF web site

[Blanka]

I can see that the boys are stronger than the girls this year, but has any particular reason been given for selecting 6 boys and 4 girls (rather than 5 and 5, which must be financially as viable)?

[mat-d]

yeah what is going on??? seems a little off to me.

everyone these days are raving on about fair trade?...what about equal opportunity??

[Mrs H]

Well I suppose for the reason you state - the boys are stronger than the girls this year.

I don't understand why more reserves are not selected for the various events. None for the girls at JWOC or the boys at the 2008 JWOC tour.

Reserves don't travel so it costs nothing to select them but it would give some positive re-inforcement to those who were in contention - I can think of at least 2 names who are simply not on thos lists that I might have expected to be there in some capacity or other - at least it would have shown they were close and the selectors had them in mind. I can't think of a disadvantage to selecting more reserves.

[Dan]

An interesting point, on the face of it the boys always looks more competitive. However if you look at the Spring Cup this year we have girls that are not going to JWOC finishing nearly 30 places higher than guys that are. Maybe this is because the girls is still not as competitive on the international stage, but if this is the case why not take the same number of girls as they would have a better chance of a top result at JWOC.

If finances only stretched to 10 people then I can see the advantages of a 6/4 rather than 5/5 split as it allows 3 relay teams rather than 2, maybe this was a factor in the decision.

Anyhow, best of luck and congratulations to all selected.

[graeme]

IMO...

The questions of whether someone is good enough to represent the country, and whether other people (BOF, taxpayers, whatever) can afford to pay them to do so are quite separate.

It seems that if JWOC were in the UK, six girls would be selected. If they deserve it, why then should six not be selected for JWOC in Australia?
If the taxpayer wont/cant fund them, then for the chance of a lifetime I'd be astonished if the money couldn't be raised elsewhere.

Whatever happened to amateur sport?

Later ... as Kitch points out, the implication of not having reserves is that the selectors didn't think they were good enough. Whether true or not (selectors surely know more than I do), this invalidates the argument for unfunded places. Good luck to those who are going, and remember your compass points south

[J.Tullster]

Regarding Graeme's point I believe a stipulation of the UK sport/lottery funding is that in the events that are funded there can't be other atheltes selected who are funding themselves/from other sources. Not sure the exact reason behind this but think the selectors are just given a limit and that's it. Someone in the know could maybe confirm this though...

[King Penguin]

We may have the Olympics in 2012, but my fear is that so-called "minority" sports will suffer with respect to funding as a consequence.
The government seems more keen on pumping what funds are available into high-profile events / facilities (e.g. new Wembley) / sports than in supporting participation and representation at international level in others - despite all the rhetoric about wanting to get more people active.
I know of another "minority" sport which is having to send a reduced size team to this year's Junior Worlds because they are not in Europe (USA) and costs are therefore higher.
Personally, I would like to see additional funding contributions for one year to those sports which have extraordinary costs because the main international events are outside Europe, but I can't see it happening.

[J.Tullster]

I'm sure they have had an increased budget for JWOC this year. I think we're pretty lucky funding wise. Athletes from a lot of other countries have to fund themselves. I know the Australians and Slovakians do, and I suspect several others do too.

[mat-d]

...then maybe there should be an option to fund yourself?

ahh controversy once again.

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congrats to the selected also!

[chepls]

stop your moning...look simple maths..

there are more guys then girls right? right!

this year 84 guys and 60 girls in total ran at least 1 FCC race.

6 guys and 4 girls were selected.

Doing simple maths that is 7% of the total number of guys and 7% of the total number of girls.

If only 6 guys in total ran in at least 1 FCC race you wouldnt select all 6 would you?

Think thats as fair as your gonna get.

[J.Tullster]

Matt, as I said before, I don't think the option to fund yourself exists really, or is not simple anyway because UK sport don't allow it if they are funding the trip...

[Kitch]

Reserves don't travel so it costs nothing to select them but it would give some positive re-inforcement to those who were in contention
.

It does if one of your first picks drops out.

Selection for representation at the World Championships is no longer about making up the numbers.
It is a question of whether you can perform to an adequate standard.

For upcoming athletes there is the possibility of going in order to gain experience, if that athlete has shown genuine potential.

If you've not shown the potential, or have been before but are borderline on results then don't expect to go again.

This is the philosophy of the Senior selectors and is in part driven by the guidelines of the funding bodies - I imagine a similar approach for the Juniors.
Its the application of an absolute rather than a relative standard.

Other races are used to encourage and build experience - EYOC, JEC, World Cup for seniors.

The World Champs is the top
life is tough at the top.

[housewife]

I agree with Kitch. If someone drops out and you have a named reserve, you have to take them. Australia costs lots per athlete, and you have to be sure that they are each going to perform, as opposed to just taking someone as they were a reserve. The 4 girls picked stood out a fair bit on the selection races and other races this year. There are some other girls with really good results in a few races this year, but if they can't come up with the goods at the selection races, you can't really justify sending them to Australia. Not sure whether the lads really stood out as I don't follow the results as much.

[Adventure Racer]

I agree with you both (in principle - haven't followed closely enough to know whether anybody else is in contention). However whilst that explains the situation for JWOC2007, the same principle surely doesn't apply regarding no boys' reserves for JWOC2008 training camp?