According to an article by Duncan Mackay in today's Guardian,
Sport England "has promised to help send as many as 580
competitors to Australia" (There were 640 English
representatives in Manchester.) Roger Draper, Chief Executive of
Sport England is quoted as saying, "What we have said to the
CGCE is that we will underwrite the £350,000 shortfall in terms
of the teams." Editorially, Mr.Mackay says, "The CGCE had
originally planned to send an athletics team of 110, but at the
trials in Manchester this month the selectors amended their
original policy of picking the first two qualified athletes over the
line to choosing only the winner instead. Now any competitor
who has achieved the qualifying criteria set by the CGCE will be
guaranteed a place." Well, hardly ANY competitor (the CGF does
limit the number of competitors, after all), but the situation does
seem to have been saved and we can all start thinking big again.

See you at Earl's Colne!

Peter Cassidy