News
MBO 2012 Selection Policy for World Championships - Hungary
Posted: 11/03/12
MBO - GB Team Selection Policy
February 2012
1 - Introduction
British Mountain Bike Orienteering (BMBO) is committed to establishing a selection process for the MTBO World & European Championships that is founded on the basic principles of sport ethics and fair play.
The selection process is open, consistent, based on clear criteria and methodology.
The selection criteria provide some selection routes for all riders based on merit. Riders seeking selection should be clear which criteria they consider is their best route to selection and plan accordingly to meet those criteria.
2 – Team Selection
To help the selectors to choose the best possible competitive team, some selection criteria will be based upon Selection Performance Threshold (SPT). Riders wishing to be considered / selected should be within this Selection Performance Threshold (SPT) for consideration in criteria A and criteria C but not necessarily for criteria B. The SPT percentages will be set for male and female selection before the selection races and will be reviewed each year to take account of current riders and previous performances at International Level.
For 2012 the Selection Performance Threshold (SPT) will be 107%* of winners time for men and 110%* of winners time for women. E.g. those wishing to be selected must be within these times in 2 out of 3 selection races.
The selection will be made in the following order based on the following criteria:
A. The top 3 placed riders from the selection races - run as a mini league with 2 results within the stated SPT.
B. Up to 3 riders as 'wild cards' who have not consistently achieved the SPT and who are either:
A young rider (1st yr senior or new to sport) who has shown, in the minds of the selectors, potential and would benefit from international experience.
A returning rider with known form/experience who has only been able to compete in some of the selection events (returning from injury/based out of UK etc)
A rider (from foot 'O' for example) who demonstrates potential but has not qualified under A and would perform at an international level (e.g. a foot 'O' rider who maybe does 1-2 events)
C. Up to 3 further riders after selection criteria B picks have been made. These C picks will be based on the selection race league, provided they are performing above the stated SPT in 2 races
*The Selection Performance Threshold is considered by the selectors to be the minimum standard required for a UK rider to qualify and compete in the World Champs Long Distance Final
3 - Selection Races
The Selectors will nominate a minimum of three MTBO races as Selection Races.
The selection races will be used to provide the Selectors with performance information for the criteria set out in section 2 above.
The races will be held early enough for those selected to arrange travel and time off, but late enough to be an accurate gauge of form. These will be at a time and venue convenient to as many potential competitors as possible. They will resemble as close as possible, in style, map type, terrain, and duration, conditions found at international competitions.
The time interval between the Team Selection being announced and the WOC competitions will depend on where and when the championships are being held. Within one week of the final Selection Race the Selectors will name the teams, and may nominate up to two reserves.
Attendance at the Selection Races is not necessary to be considered for selection.
However, failure to attend any of the Selection Races will reduce chances of being selected.
Finishing only one of the Selection Races (including when due to mechanical breakdown) will make it more difficult for the Selectors to compare performance.
Selection Races for 2012 WOC:
18/03/2012 – Rawnsley Forest (Long Distance)
28/04/2012 – Foxley (Long Distance)
12/05/2012 – Pickering Forest (Middle Distance)
(see BMBO Website for further details)
It is hoped that by selecting riders earlier will be easier for individuals to make arrangements for flights/accommodation.
4 - Rider Notification of Availability
All riders wishing to be considered for the Men's or Women's team should inform the Selectors as early as possible of their interest and availability for the dates of competitions and that they are willing to travel.
For 2012 riders wishing to be selected for WOC they must inform selectors as soon as possible and before the end of April. As the WOC and MWOC events are to be held at the same time and location riders are likely to want to make arrangements to travel and stay together. In view of this, selectors will aim to notify riders as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of the final selection race.
Riders resident abroad are eligible for selection and selectors would need a performance benchmark in order to confirm selection (E.g. World Cup Performance/Resident Country National Champs etc)
5 - Non eligibility
The following grounds will preclude any riders from consideration for Team GBR
A. Failure to comply with any aspect of the BO/BMBO Drug's Policy
B. Failure to comply with competition rules.
C. Failure to uphold the spirit of fair competition.
6 - Injury, Illness and Exceptional Circumstances
Where a selection race is affected by exceptional circumstances that the selectors deem to impact its suitability for use as a selection race (for instance voiding, cancellation or bad weather), the selectors have the right to place increased weight on the other selection criteria.
Where an athlete withdraws from a team through injury or illness, if there is a nominated reserve then the reserve will be invited to take that athlete's place wherever possible. However, in circumstances where there is no nominated reserve or the selectors believe that the nominated reserve will be unable to prepare properly for the competition in the time available (for instance a non-travelling reserve where an athlete withdraws on the day of competition), then the selectors may at their absolute discretion decide:
A. Not to fill the vacancy in the team.
B. Fill the vacancy in the team with an available athlete who will be able to prepare properly in the time available (for instance, in short notice cases this may be an athlete already attending the competition).
7 - Selection Panel
The Selectors will be appointed by the BMBO committee and will comprise three riders with commitment towards high performance mountain bike orienteering. One member will be nominated Chair.
The selectors are responsible for implementation of the selection policy, including making all selections in accordance with the published selection policy, and communicating decisions to BMBO.
The selectors are responsible for carrying out an annual review of the selection policy and recommending changes for approval by BMBO.
8 - Appeals
Any rider wishing to lodge an appeal under this Selection Appeals Procedure must be fully familiar with the detailed provisions of the Selection Policy.
The appeal will be submitted in writing to the Chairman of BMBO within three days of the first publication of Team Selections on the BMBO/BO web sites.
The Chairman will consult with the Selection Panel who will give written details of their decision making process. The sole ground of appeal against the decision of the Selection Panel will be that there has been a failure to follow the Selection Policy.
The BMBO Committee will decide whether the appeal will be allowed. This will usually be within two weeks of the date of appeal. If allowed, the BMBO Committee will publish revised Team Selections. There will be no further right of appeal.
End of Selection Policy
Current Selectors:
Andy Conn
Bryan Singleton
Charlie Somers-Cocks
Contact: selectors@bmbo.org.uk