Note
I'm glad I'm not a junior trying out for JWOC in Britain any more - only 3 women selected as I understand it on the basis that the rest aren't expected do very well and/or aren't expected to come in the top 10 at WOC in the next 2-5 years. I think that is a pretty crap selection policy for JWOC in itself but it's its application that I think is especially dodgy. Being an actuary, I can't help wondering at what probability of adequacy the assessment that those not selected won't amount to much is made at, given how quickly form can improve from that age and incorporating the circularity of the whole thing given that there can be a significant motivational boost from being selected (as well as a kick up the arse if you do get whipped at JWOC). It seems like a big call to me to say that those not picked for vacant spaces definitely don't meet that criteria. I would have thought a sensible starting position would be a desire to fill the places where possible, but reserving the right to apply these sections of the criteria by exception where it is beyond doubt that someone won't make it. Maybe there's more going on than I know about, or maybe all bar 3 women really are hopeless and have appalling attitudes to competing and training... Either way, it doesn't look good from the outside.