Olympic selection

[Duncer]

I saw a piece on the news last night reference the selection of female clay pigeon shooters. Firstly, I must confess that I know as much about clay-pigeon shooting as I do about major figures in Congolese politics, but it all seemed a little strange to me.

The Uk selectors have picked a girl who is ranked either 14th or 16th in the world, (it was late last night), while overlooking a girl ranked fourth in the world. Granted, the girl selected has previously won Commonwealth gold, but I would suggest the Commonwealth games compare with the Olympics in the same way that League One compares with the Premier League.

Apparently the fourth ranked girl appealed, but the appeal was rejected on the grounds that the other girl in question "Has more experience".

This would lead me to wonder how the higher ranked girl is ever suppposed to get "experience" and to wonder how this "lack of experience" has held her back so much that she is now ranked so highly? I believe there was a similar situation in one of the martial arts.

[brionon]

As President of the Clay Pigeon protection Society I abhor this So Called Sport. !!

[sir.prize]

Only a Psycho can understand Olympic team selection!

[Duncer]

"Psycho" Pearce perhaps?

[Frank97]

It's just not right, IMO!

[shoota]

I thought that possibly, in the manner of the first 6 qualifiers in an F1 GP are covered by .06 of a second, the performance of these two ladies might be very close despite the 10 place gap in the rankings. In which case a greater experience of top level events might have been enough to swing the decision but the facts would appear to rule out that theory: Abbey Burton having a rating of 986, Charlotte Kerwood having a rating of 337.

http://www.issf-sport...ent=TR75&evlinkid=303

[shoota]

Apparently Charlotte was in a selection shoot off with Shona Marshall, who is ranked a couple of places below her. Abbey was not under consideration at that point.
Another article explains something about the appeal mounted by Abbey.
Unless you are party to the complete story I suppose there will always be a question mark over the reasons. Has Abbey a temperament flaw perhaps?

http://www.metro.co.u...ondon-2012-team-place

http://www.metro.co.u...-2012-place-confirmed

[shoota]

Now completely confused because this article says that Chlarlotte is ranked higher than Abbey - although it is the DM....


http://www.dailymail....B-shooting-squad.html

[shoota]

There is some sort of an explanation in this link: it would appear that Abbey has missed out on some qualifying shoots and her higher ranking is based on a competition outside the qualifying time.
Still, there remains a large question mark over this decision and the consensus of opinion is that the wrong decision has been made.
I just hope that Charlotte odes well and justifies the decision.

http://www.clay-shoot...selection-questioned/

[Duncer]

shoota, a career as a detective awaits, many thanks for the additional information.

A controversial decision alright, and it does seem that who you know is still very important. I would have thought straight competition was important to qualify for an an event of this magnitude, rather than perceived experience.

[shoota]

I think the problem can be summed up thus: having made a set of selection criteria, the selectors could only choose from those who met those criteria.
Even though that meant leaving out a (potentially) better shooter.

There is also the possibility that, as Charlotte receives funding to enable her to concentrate on her shooting and Abbey doesn't, the selectors had to be seen to be protecting their investment.......