Page 19 - Autumn 2017

Page 19:Layout 1 15-Oct-17 2:58 PM Page 1

So where do we go from here as third in the team event is simply not good enough. Start 19
by dropping the worst rink you might say or drop the three rinks that under-performed?
If that was the answer it would be a simple solution but the 16 players in the four rinks have some
good and experienced players but having been to all but one of the British Isles Championships
over their 32 year history, the biggest question mark in my head is about head reading which I re-
gard as a weakness in England as well as consistency of play. Indeed I have watched some shot
choices that leave me scratching my head!
On a player by player basis England cannot match the long term consistency of Irish players,
a number of whom have played in the Rinks team over several years or are returnees. England
simply cannot match this and that fact cannot be ignored. Of course, there are players who think
they are better than they are. Being a cocky top dog in England means nothing when you come
to play at International level.
I don’t think I have the solution but there are things I would change. Firstly, I would play on
fast mats on a solid floor and not carpet on carpet when at home. Secondly, I would play a “sep-
arate” inter-county fours team competition with a trophy of its own, which could of course be part
of a county match if it was deemed necessary. The Irish play their zone competition, the equivalent
of our county matches, as rinks only without any individual events, which are countered for else-
where but they have gained great skill and experience from their rinks games, which is obviously
there for all to see.
As a matter of routine, I would not allow committee members to play in the rinks team. If they
win National events at Singles, Pairs, Triples or fours then so be it as they are then entitled to play
but in the rinks team they would have a choice, be on the committee or play for England but not
both. England have laid out huge sums of money over the years on an underperforming England
squad and they still continue to spend. Perhaps we should take an attitude more like Olympic
funding. i.e. if you underperform your finances are restricted or even withdrawn. Compared with
the other Nations we grossly overspend!
We have also generally underperformed at individual level. Looking at Wales, who have
about 10% of the players we have in England, they have 11 Singles wins to England's 5. They
have 4 wins in the Pairs to England’s 7 and 4 Triples wins to England's 8; with Wales winning just
4 wins in the fours to England’s 10, including 5 successive England wins from 1993 to 1997, al-
though just 3 wins since then. Overall Wales for its size have basically outperformed England and
good luck to them but if the English don’t take an honest look at themselves then we will continue
to be second or third best and continue to waste the money coming from the grass roots.
Once again this is not an attack on any individuals, it’s an honest open look at the perform-
ance of the England since the early days of 1986. After I ceased to be the England Manager I
promised myself I would not be critical of the efforts of other managers and so far after nearly 19
years I have kept this promise.
Others have been more critical and I well remember one
person complaining very loudly to all and sundry that one par-
ticular England squad was the worst that England had ever
turned out, yet in the rinks they ran Ireland very close and put
in (at the time) the second best ever performance by a rinks
team and this was in Ireland.
No doubt some will take it personally but I’ve mentioned
no names and have just dealt with results alone. Remember,
before you can try to put a problem right, you have to accept
that there is a problem in the first place but I doubt very much
that this would be accepted! So over to you if you can chip in
with something constructive and I do mean constructive, not
just a “wishy washy” personal view or an attack on any individ-
uals. I can publish anonymously provided I know who you are.