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It is
with regret that the SCA slalom committee have taken the decision
to cancel the above event.
I should
emphasise that this decision was not prompted initially by
the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease which may have
well resulted in the event being cancelled at a later date
but as a result of the decision of the Selection Committee
to hold a selection race in Nottingham on Easter Monday, the
day after our event. The BCU Slalom Executive were aware that
this would be the likely outcome if a selection race went
ahead on Monday 16th April.
The reasons
for this decision are as follows:
It is
highly likely that all top senior, U23 and Junior paddlers
will not travel to Grandtully the weekend before an important
selection race in Nottingham on the Monday. Therefore all
national teams, if they come will be so depleted as to make
a mockery of the term "International". Equally all top Div
1 paddlers will be absent for the same reason and bearing
in mind our entry levels for the last couple of years it would
be neither economic or a good competition to run with a minimal
number of entries.
Most of
the Scottish paddlers and coaches including top Scottish Juniors
will be in Nottingham and more importantly their parents also,
so our "work" force would be decimated.
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I seriously
question whether we would have the services of more than 1
or 2 section judges and even that is probably being optimistic.
Not a problem if we had lots of the Scots Premier paddlers
available to help out but again that is unlikely as many will
be competing or coaching at Nottingham .
I regret
the problems this cancellation will cause for the local community
and for paddlers and officials, in particular those who have
already booked accommodation. We have tried to arrive at the
most sensible course of action in very difficult circumstances
for all concerned.
I must
emphasise that this in no way affects the Double Premier event
at Grandtully the following week, April21/22, which at the
time of writing is still expected to go ahead.
I want
to take this opportunity to thank all of you who had agreed
to help in the running of the event or who had arranged to
be there to help. I felt for the first time this year that
the arrangements were going well, all the main tasks had been
allocated and I was about to contact people for all the hundreds
of small jobs that need doing over the weekend itself. Just
in case my arm is twisted to do this next year I hope you
will all be as willing and helpful next time!
Chris
Baillie
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