International Selection

[timfatheroftom]

I think that you will find, if you care to check that AIUK 's Grant Womack and Simon Needham ,both represented senior rec @ European Indoors in Italy this year without being funded archers(alongside Mike Peart who is), I am not sure how this leaves your argument, but all they did was get the qualifying scores, go to selection shoot and ultimatly get selected, sorry if this information spoils any arguments, but like most things in life there are two sides to every story.

[its my party and]

Stu its nice to have a plan in life and its good that you have looked into it. As with most plans there are steps to take, the first active step for you would apparently be to shoot the qualifying scores.
If you do shoot them on a regular basis then you will be awarded the chance to go to a selection shoot. I'd say go shoot the scores and then move onto the next stage.
Good luck

[Woodie]

The answaer to 1 is definately yes

Extract from performance information

Senior Team Outdoor 2009 Selection Criteria

Selection shoot-off for The World Championship in Ulsan, Korea, 30th August to 17th September will be for those archers having reached the following score level criteria between 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2009 at FITA Stars or World Record Status FITA 70m Competitions.

* All Olympic WCP archers could be allowed to participate in selection shoot off without limit. All WCD or TID funded archers will be considered for the shoot off if they achieve one selection score.

* First 2 ranked archers of each category in the shoot-off will be selected; the third and reserve archer will be selected by the Head Coach and named as soon as possible after the World Championship selection shoot.

Qualifying score for selection shoot is 2 scores total of 2380

Then at selection shoot(s) you have to come 1st or 2nd to be automaticaly selected.

AFAIK
this only applies to european and world championships, and Olympic games. All other competitions are classed as development so head coach gets to choose who he wants.

[Shirt]

If a monkey like me can get a GB shirt, I firmly believe that anyone can - all you have to do is shoot the scores.

Look at Simon Terry's comeback - he shot a pair of 1300s, went to the selection shoots and shot well. Same indoors. He wasn't funded at the time (might be now) but he still ended up shooting for GB because he won the shoots.

[GBARCH1975]

Originally Posted by inkystu

Yes Watch man Micheal is listed as funded for 2008. I'm lead to believe (Not from GNAS) fully funded archers have 3 years funding approx £75000 for the three years. DONT SHOOT ME ON THIS. THIS IS WHAT I'M LEAD TO BELIEVE FROM A THIRD PARTY. IF PEOPLE KNOW DIFFERENT PLEASE TELL ME.

The point I am trying to make is that archery should be a sport for all. For all archers to be able to strive for top status should they so wish to not at the detriment of their life/family/businesses/future.

Also, who are the people running our sport? Archers or accountants?

I am looking for guidance from the forum as to what to do. Look to prepare for top flight archery, internationally, or just to look to shoot head turning scores at our club and maybe local tournaments.

The money available to be able to fully fund archers for the next 3 years is near to the amount you have stated, but it isn't a secure as you make it sound. In order to complete the shooting/training calendar for an average year, you need to be full time. Balancing work commitments with shooting commitments in a fluid environment such as Peter Suk's mind is almost impossible.

Peter's plans change on nearly a daily basis. He can call you and expect you to attend a training session when he is free and cancel it just as quick. You can say no if you want, but the chances of being in the "good boy's club" after that will be extremely slim! This is important when he chooses the teams to go to world cup events. The world cup events are needed in order to prove your worth to UKSPORT for your funding. And your funding is needed to be able to put up with his massive amount of C**P!

Review meetings occur every 6 months, where performance/psychological/physical reports are compiled on you, and a judgement made on whether your worth investing any more time/effort and money on. You have to be prepared to have your circumstances change over night. One minute you can be on funding, shooting loads of arrows, 6-7 days of the week. The next, trying to go back to work and shoot with the same intensity off 2 days a week. Sounds easy when your having to try and do that now, but try doing it after doing it full-time! You just keep running out of time to do stuff!

You asked who is running our sport? Archers or Accountants? Well the admin of the sport may be made up by Archers (or at least people who know what a bow looks like!), the Accountants/Paymasters at UKSPORT really don't care whether the selection system is fair to everybody in the country/membership, they just want medals! They will pay "£ X" to help get those medals, and will take "£ X" away from sports that do not get the medals! That simple.

The only advice I can give to you, and its the same advice as I am using myself! Scores,Scores,Scores! The only way to make any impression on the coach/system is to be shooting world class scores! FITA's scores need to be be 1320+ and 720 scores need to be 660+. I know that those scores are as high as the guys in the team now, but shooting lower than these means its unlikely you would make a cut within an international. And thats what matters to the coach/UKSPORT.

[Paul120]

Originally Posted by inkystu

I was told 'Probably unlikely anyone would do that but probably would'nt be selected as they weren't funded. Sorry but we are funded by Sports UK and they want to see results from their funding. This isn't GNAS decision. Oh by the way, the head coach also has a say in how the team is selected'

I agree with GNAS... and from evidence from other sports the governing bodied have very little say and the decisions made.
Somehow sports UK have put policies in place that don't take into account sports such as archery. They have a model that might fit swimming, Athletics and gymnastice (i.e not worth investing in at over 25 to develop and not worth maintaining after 35. Brilliant if you'r at the top or getting there as some of the competion for your place is removed ) but has very little to do with other sports.
Rather than blame GNAS who's hands are tied. frustration would be better vented at Sports UK which unfortunately is run by politicians.

How much funding would be available if GNAS opposed Sports UK? Not a lot I think.

Sports UK is a political body...They need to show they have had an influence by inflicting policies to justify having thier noses in a very lucrative trough. Ask how much of the millions actually gets to the athletes after they've had there cut.

Seb Coe isn't just working for the love of the games. I think fat £5M thats already supposed to already have come his way, if true has helped a bit.

[inkystu]

Just seen on the bottom of the GNAS website a company registration number which means GNAS is a limited COMPANY. Therefore yes it appears we are paying our subs to a business, which will in turn mean the financial side of archery is more important than the motto suggests. Yes I know you need money to assist people shoot and if we are forced into sending professional archers to world and olympic games to keep the money flowing then come out and say that GNAS. Dont let every archer believe they could go for the 2012 games when the reality is far from that.

The days of GNAS being accountable to the archers are gone as far as I can see due to it now being a limited company with shareholders and directors. I haven't looked up who they are yet but no doubt some of them are embedded at Lillishall.

Yes any archer can shoot for GB in field or Indoor, but come to World champs or olympics, sorry kids, you need to be funded. Reading GBarch's post, I'd need a lot more than the current funding level to put up with that s***. Then what happens if I do get to Gb level and accept the funding? I give up my business which I have grown for the last 11 years to support my family, get employed by GNAS, have a bad 6 months shooting cos I dont suit the Head coach, lose my funding, and I'm left with nothing to go back to. IS THAT REALLY WHAT OUR SPORT HAS COME TO????????

BULLY BOY TACTICS.


I've made up my mind now anyway. I'm going to train to achieve the highest scores I possibly can, do very few, selected tournaments, and see what hits the fan. Just make sure you're not standing too close to the fan, you may never get rid of the smell.

[mk1]

Originally Posted by inkystu

The days of GNAS being accountable to the archers are gone as far as I can see due to it now being a limited company with shareholders and directors. I haven't looked up who they are yet but no doubt some of them are embedded at Lillishall.

IIAC, GNAS has alway been a Limited Company, that's how it was set up and why it can't change its name so is now "Trading" as Archery GB.

[not dead yet]

the funding starts at about £3000 upto £25000.

it doesn't apply to the fact the mike peart should have been first reserve.

and in a court of law he would have a claim, as he had the scores

[inkystu]

Originally Posted by not dead yet

the funding starts at about £3000 upto £25000.

it doesn't apply to the fact the mike peart should have been first reserve.

and in a court of law he would have a claim, as he had the scores

Like I say...I'd need a lot more than that to put up with what GBarch has said.

I agree Mike Peart shot his way to first reserve. I dont agree with anyone making selections after having shoot off's. It defeats the object.