GymBeamRisky
Proud Parent
- Apr 25, 2018
- 31
- 6
Whilst I feel that the Challenge cup entry qualifying scores are broadly fair the same cannot be said for the qualifying scores for entry into the British particularly at the Junior and Senior levels. When only 12 Junior and 9 Seniors attained in excess of these scores at the 2019 British how can it possibly be fair? Surely a mean average score of recent years at the British could be used as a fairer and more reflective recognition of the attainment of the girls who have spent dedicated years of their life on the national path?
Maybe just maybe a Junior who scored say 47.5 at the challenge could have had a bad day and normally be capable of 49 plus putting them in the top 10 in Great Britain? Same applies to other age groups.A score of 45 point something at the Junior this year and you could of placed as high as 22nd and at Senior as high as 16th.And then there are the individual apparatus where one of these girls who excels in a particular field or maybe two will be denied the opportunity to be placed amongst the top in Britain.
I see that no Juniors or Seniors met the qualifying score last year and only one of the six espoir that attained over 46 went on to compete at the British. Barring injuries why would that be, is it more likely to be the individual or the clubs decision?
Why should girls who meet a “mean average” be denied the right to one day say to their grand children , “ once upon a time your Gran finished 20th AA in whole of Great Britain and even won a Gold medal on the individual beam!” Basically it is British Gymnastics way of saying, “ if you do not attain a top 10 British finishing score at the Challenge we really aren’t interested in you”. .....well it might as well be.
The system needs to change , it needs to be more realistic,more reflective of girls achievements and fairer. Above all it needs to allow gymnasts to reach their full potential results wise.Only a select few will make the British squad but that does not mean we should deny other gymnasts the rights to be the best they can be !
Ok rant over Any thoughts?
Maybe just maybe a Junior who scored say 47.5 at the challenge could have had a bad day and normally be capable of 49 plus putting them in the top 10 in Great Britain? Same applies to other age groups.A score of 45 point something at the Junior this year and you could of placed as high as 22nd and at Senior as high as 16th.And then there are the individual apparatus where one of these girls who excels in a particular field or maybe two will be denied the opportunity to be placed amongst the top in Britain.
I see that no Juniors or Seniors met the qualifying score last year and only one of the six espoir that attained over 46 went on to compete at the British. Barring injuries why would that be, is it more likely to be the individual or the clubs decision?
Why should girls who meet a “mean average” be denied the right to one day say to their grand children , “ once upon a time your Gran finished 20th AA in whole of Great Britain and even won a Gold medal on the individual beam!” Basically it is British Gymnastics way of saying, “ if you do not attain a top 10 British finishing score at the Challenge we really aren’t interested in you”. .....well it might as well be.
The system needs to change , it needs to be more realistic,more reflective of girls achievements and fairer. Above all it needs to allow gymnasts to reach their full potential results wise.Only a select few will make the British squad but that does not mean we should deny other gymnasts the rights to be the best they can be !
Ok rant over Any thoughts?