BNDS AGM and Celebration Day
Cross Country Skiers - the most cost effective Olympians the country has ever had?
BNDS AGM and CELEBRATION DAY
The British Nordic Development Squad met in Stewarts Hall, Huntly, Aberdeenshire on Sunday 2nd May for their first AGM since four of their members competed in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. For the last year, BNDS has not only run the development squad of young Nordic skiers, but has also been responsible for managing the British Nordic Ski Team.
The team had a busy and highly successful winter racing season in Scandinavia and Europe, involving 208 individual race starts. The season culminated in 4 British and 1 Irish member of BNDS meeting Olympic qualification. Owing to the allocation of only 3 Nordic places on TeamGB, qualifying athlete Callum Smith (17, Inverurie) was unable to join Fiona Hughes (20, Huddersfield) and Huntly athletes Andrew Young (18), Andrew Musgrave (then 19) in Vancouver. Huntly resident, PJ Barron (20) also competed at the Vancouver Olympics, skiing for Ireland.
It was the BNDS’s Huntly-based Head Coach, Roy Young, who took the talented young team to the Olympics. He congratulated the assembled meeting of athletes, parents, coaches and committee members on their joint contribution to the incredible achievements of the season, not only in getting a team to the Olympics but in addition for so many other notable achievements for Great British Nordic Skiing
Roy Young noted that a historical comparison of Cross country skiing Olympic results showed the high level of achievement this year. He revealed that the young BNDS trained British team had accumulated an amazing 6th best ever British women’s result and a 1st , 3rd, 4th , 8th and 21st best ever British men’s result in the Vancouver Olympic Games (as rated in percentage time behind the winner). Huntly’s Andrew Musgrave gave a best ever British Nordic Skier’s performance in the Olympics! Young commented "the results show that we have a number of talented international athletes who have demonstrated that they deserve to compete on the world stage"
Financial reports by Frank Musgrave, BNDS Treasurer, revealed 75% of costs had to be funded by the athletes and their families. Noting that the finances were in good shape at the end of the season, Frank Musgrave suggested wryly that, through careful budgeting, “we must here the most cost effective Olympians the country has ever had”.
Future funding of BNDS and particularly the British Nordic Ski Team is a cause for concern. The BNDS Chairperson, Madalyn Hughes, noted that despite the amazing successes of the past season, the future of elite level cross country skiing is, at present, ambiguous. With the recent liquidation of the National Governing Body for winter sports, and post Olympic reviews in progress the funding for all winter sports is undecided for next season. The amount needed to maintain the present team of elite skiers on a performance pathway that could lead to potential medaling positions in future Olympic Games is projected to be £75,000 - £100,000 this year alone.
She also noted that managing the elite team at current and future levels of performance is unsustainable on a long-term basis for BNDS, a voluntary, non-profit making body, run largely by parents. Funding and organizing a national team at this level requires both central funding and centralized organisation.
For the immediate future, until alternative arrangements are agreed with the National Governing Body, BNDS will continue to support both development athletes and the GB Team with key competitions targeted for the 2010-2011 season, (subject to funding), being European Youth Olympics, World Universade, World Junior and Under 23 Championships and World Championships
In the future it is anticipated that the focus of BNDS will be to return to its core objective; developing the skills and accessibility of cross-country skiing to young British skiers, racing at junior levels and preparing them for selection and entry to the GB Team
The day finished at the Huntly Nordic Ski Centre on a more light-hearted note with BNDS invited guests and members enjoying a review of the year in pictures and anecdotes followed by a display of roller-skiing skills from the athletes. The afternoon ended with a generous spread of sandwiches and cakes donated by BNDS members. The kind support of sponsors and local community bodies was gratefully noted. Appreciation was reciprocated by Huntly Development Trust officer Donald Boyd who presented the 3 Huntly based Olympic athletes and Head Coach, Roy Young, with tokens of thanks from the local community.
Pictures
BNDS athletes beside 2009/10 BNDS banner (sponsored by McIntosh Plant Hire) at Huntly Nordic Ski and Outdoor Centre.
