Following input from our coaching team and consideration by the PE Board, we are pleased to announce the Men’s team for the European Espoirs Championships 2019, which is organised on an annual basis by the CEP.
The selection is Jason White, Ollie Zimmerman, Aston Monk and Luke Ashford. We would like to wish the team and their coach Simon Bird all the very best at the Championships which will take place in France (Saint-Pierre-lès-Elbeuf, Normandy) between the 3rd and 6th October. This was the venue for the tournament in 2017, which also included the Men’s European Championships at the same time and where Sammy Thatcher secured a gold medal in the Women’s Espoirs Precision Shooting.
After careful consideration, the PE Board has decided at its recent meeting not to send a Women’s team to compete in the European Espoirs Triples Championships this year.
Unfortunately, due to the limited pool of players and player availability, there were only three female players within the specified age range that could be selected, despite the best efforts of our coaching team to form a team of four. It is the policy of PE to attend elite level triples tournaments with a minimum of four players.
We realise that this will be disappointing for the three players that were available and we will be working with our coaching team to identify other suitable international playing opportunities for them.
We hope to resume full participation in the Espoirs Championships next year.
4 comments
Sabrina Seville
6th August 2019 at 11:40 pm
I believe that the three women that have trained for this moment should still be sent to compete at the Europeans as it is only fair to give them the same equal opportunity as the men. Is there anyway you can reconsider as this is a vital chance for the women to gain experience. Or if the case is they just lack a 4th player why can’t we find a player between all the members that is willing to go and gain some experience?
Kevin Wood
7th August 2019 at 8:27 am
I support you Sabrina on this but you also have to see it in the governing bodies eyes of Expense in sending and could a fourth player be found and also gel with the team of 3 .. maybe would have been better this year as no Espoirs being sent if Espoirs mens numbers up for selection were very low like the ladies.
Allan Edwards
7th August 2019 at 7:44 am
How can the decision to deny the female espoirs the opportunity to compete be seen as anything other than flying in the face of equal opportunities in sport?
Kevin Wood
7th August 2019 at 8:22 am
Can I ask how many Male espoirs were available for this event as rumours say only the 4 which again brings in the absurd PE reasoning and justification for sending … The roots of our beloved sport must grow and youngsters benefit from pressurised competition which is unlike any competition here in Britain..