Originally Posted by serious power

Hi Alejandro,
Was just about to press the 'OK' on this reply last night when we got a power outage (no modem) due to another big storm.
Anyway we did ,right up to a few weeks ago, have a team traveling - perhaps not our 'A' team but a full team.
Then one guy had to drop out for 'personal' reasons just a couple of weeks ago.
Coincidentally another of the guys had some 'unforeseen' stuff going on.
It was a case of dominoes after that.
As you know it is a big trip.
We get very little funding from our NGB - enough to pay the entry fee + a good meal.
The guys traveling have to fund themselves so we don't have helpers or mechanics traveling.
Therefore our team rely on each other for help and assistance. This puts the dominoes closer together.

I can't, and wouldn't anyway, speak about the reasons behind the reasons for the individuals involved.
I can say that things here in Ireland are tough financially. We are at the moment of peak impact of an 'AUSTERITY' programme.
Also last summer and autumn were a wash out and nobody has done much flying so far this year either.
So some people declined the initial team place offer after our team trials were over.
I was one of those and the above is my story.
My business came to a shuddering halt just before Christmas.

Whatever the reasons it is a real pity as we have been represented at every World Champs for the last 30+years and at quite a few before that.
Also Bob Skinner was of tremendous assistance when we ran a WC's here in 2001.

Brian