I hate to be a Jonah over this but it is risky to compare with past results.
Many of athletes concerned were from countries the UK would not want to compare
to such as African nations or athletes who did not perform on the day such as
Ray Sharp or Olexsandr Romanenko. In some cases older athletes were there to
make up the numbers, hardly an exercise in development.

The results from the last European cup demonstrate a far higher standard where a
Veteran such as Roman Bilek has to do 4:12:38 and still finish last.

Paul raises a point about self funding, the EAA fixture list has a number of
excellent permit meetings across the continent, in most cases accommodation is
provided for 1-2 nights by the promoters, these are at both 20km and 50km. It
is these opportunities that the athlete seeking development can seek the sort of
times required to take the next step.

In terms of 'second tier' competitors, some nations require their athletes to
meet a standard HIGHER than the Olympic B requirements. One country have left a
walker home who did 4:04:06 in the trial because his performance was deemed not
to be up to the standard to represent that country in this year's world cup.
They will go into the race with only two competitors.

The numbers outside the British standards are numerically small when looking at
the whole picture. I may sound dismissive but I have avoided the argument that
compares to those who have gone before be it 10, 20 or more years. You need to
set your standards not at the lower level but rather at a level that is
competitive but capable of attainment. The UK all-time lists give a benchmark.

Lets see a good turnout at Leamington where opportunities are provided.

Another bone of contention must surely be that many of the medals in the UKA/RWA
championships are won not by promising athletes but athletes who are over 40.
Only one woman under 40 has won a medal in these championships this year, she
being 20 this year. In fact the medals have gone to women who were born in
1963 or earlier.

The men show a similar pattern, the exception being Scott Davis (born 1975)
whilst the rest of the medals have gone to athletes born between 1948 and 1968.
Three of the 9 medals went to athletes now well over 50. This means the average
age of our top walkers, outside the current world cup team is well over 40.

It is the development of a new generation of quality athletes which is call for,
recruits from other branches of athletics in the short term, so we never again
go into a World cup event with few athletes than normally constitute a single
team for an event.

Sorry to be a such a misery guts but there it is. Shoot for the stars and you
hit the moon

Mark





> To: racewalk@yahoogroups.com
> From: paulhayden1@...
> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 20:48:41 +0100
> Subject: RE: [UK racewalk] World Cup
>
> Interesting stats John.
>
> I don’t know if there is a cut off time for selection other than a self
> imposed cut off. If it is self imposed is this down to the money available
> to send athletes? If the latter then I understand why we don’t send 2nd tier
> athletes but is there any way the “2nd tier” could be offered places if they
> made a contribution to costs or is this illegal / too political?
>
> The stats suggest other countries send athletes at this second tier level.
> Is that so? And if so is this to give them the experience, drive and
> enthusiasm to make the first tier, or, is this the best that they’ve got?
>
> With very few 1st tier walkers making the “cut off” times, how do we
> encourage our next best walkers?
>
> I would welcome the comments from the selectors and also our 2nd tier
> walkers as to what would encourage them.
>
>
>
> Thank you
>
> Paul Hayden
>
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: racewalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:racewalk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> Of John Constandinou
> Sent: 06 May 2008 15:45
> To: racewalk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [UK racewalk] World Cup
>
>
>
>
> Following on about the statistics for the last World Cup in 2006; see how
> the LAST placed athletes there in each event compare to current standards in
> the UK:
> 50k Men - 5:05:51 PB. Three British men have bettered in 2008.
> 20k Men - 1:50:07. Thirteen British men have bettered in 2008.
> 20k Women - 1:57:44 SB. Three British women have bettered in 2008.
> 10k Men - 55:22 PB. Eight British junior men have bettered in 2008.
> 10k Women - 1:09:44 PB. Six British junior women have bettered in 2008.
> If only we could send Scott Davis to complete a British team for the 50k...
> Such a team would have grabbed 9th place in 2006, beating Hungary, USA and
> Ukraine...
>
> Good luck to the British team in Cheboksary, everyone is very proud of what
> you have already achieved.
>
> ____________-_________-_________-__
> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 13:30:21 +0100Subject: RE: [UK racewalk] World Cup
>
> Tony presumes right - the World Cup Team is:
> Ben Wears, U20 10 km
> Johanna Jackson, w 20 km
> Daniel King, 50 km
> Dominic King, 50 km
> They gained selection by bettering the following qualifying times in 2008:
>
> Event Development Elite
> 10 km U20 NA 00:47:00
> 10 km w U20 NA 00:53:00
> 20 km 01:30:00 01:28:00
> 20 km w 01:45:00 01:40:00
> 50 km 04:20:00 04:10:00
>
> Statistics from 2006 World Cup
> 10 km U20
> * 54 finishers
> * 26 PB, 6 SB, 6 DQ
> * 60 starters: 53.3 % delivered PB/SB
> * 40 athletes sub-UKA qualifying time (47:00)
> 10 km w U20
> * 44 finishers
> * 21 PB, 7 SB, 4 DQ
> * 48 starters: 58.3 % delivered PB/SB
> * 32 athletes sub-UKA qualifying time (53:00)
> 20 km
> * 95 finishers
> * 22 PB, 32 SB, 9 DQ, 11 DNF
> * 115 starters: 57.8 % delivered PB/SB
> * 59 athletes sub-UKA qualifying time (1:28:00)
> 20 km w
> * 71 finishers
> * 10 PB, 16 SB, 5 DQ, 12 DNF
> * 88 starters: 29.5 % delivered PB/SB
> * 48 athletes sub-UKA qualifying time (1:40:00)
> 50 km
> * 63 finishers
> * 18 PB, 31 SB, 6 DQ, 13 DNF
> * 82 starters: 77.7 % delivered PB/SB
> * 46 athletes sub-UKA qualifying time (4:20:00)
>
> Comment
> The biannual World/European Race Walking Cup generally sees at least 50% of
> the field record a season's or personal best performance. The Team GB
> athletes are challenged to target a season's best performance as their
> minimum target for race day, providing an appropriate stimulus for
> developing athletes. In terms of planning the World Cup is identified as
> peak one, with a second peak for the summer championships (World
> Juniors/Olympics)-.
>
> The Team has just enjoyed a training camp based at Brunel University,
> training with the Athletics Australia World Cup Team for a mix of dates
> between 24th April to 4th May as fitted individual plans. Most sessions
> occurred at Eton Rowing Centre, Black Lake Country Park and Brunel campus.
> The UK Athletics Performance Department funded the camp.
>
> Andi Drake,
> Team GB Coach 2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup
>
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