Lineup for the Celtic

I only know the partial list:

Ryan V., Will Barron, Mike Smith, Ken Lowther, Larry Brock, Roy Bogue, James Parman, Alistar Gunn(?), and me but I'm not sure who else.  It will be the usual tough comp.

will barron wrote: man are he and Overfelt goin down though!

I'm just gonna try and survive.... KO, on the otherhand, said he is going to put a whoopin' on everyone.  I trained with him on Sunday, and he was putting up silly #'s, including being in the teens with his hammer. 

We were throwing sheaf, and he says, "Watch this, this 20lb. bag is Will Barron's head!"  Then, he throws a monster throw.  Would have been truly impressive, but Will's head is tough, and the fork broke.  That's right, the multi world record holding sheaf fork, "my baby", is missing the middle tine.  Many tears were shed by KO, and now he has a personal vendetta against Will Barron. 

I'm just gonna try and stay outta the way...

-C

just to add some fuel to the fire:

Why isn't Sean Betz invited to either the Celtic or the Worlds?

I can't speak authoritatively on either one. I do know that the Celtic is very loyal to its athletes and my understanding is if you were there last year then you pretty much have your slot for this year. Give up your slot and you may not get it back. Considering the money involved, no one gives up their slot easily.

As for Sean not being in the World's, that is simply unforgiveable. Last year at Antigonish they had a half dozen Canadians. Historically, the home country has always had more than two athletes. All of a sudden the USA just gets two? I think it's ridiculous.

On top of that they schedule it to coincide with the Celtic Classic. Incomprehensible.

Steve Conway wrote: Why aren't we getting any answers on this question? Maybe I'm a little sensitive on this subject, having taken a fair amount of grief from various people in the past for the Pleasanton line-up; but Sean clearly has the ranking and the numbers to be at either the Celtic or the Worlds. What's the deal? Who are the AD's for these games?

Hey Steve,

Technically, until next year Celtic was not a championship meet, so traditional invites were still the order of the day. But of course next year they'll be based on the scoreboard. We need the proper balance of both...

As for the Worlds? Well, I guess we realize the sport is simply not legitimate enough for the selection process to be fair. It doesn't have to be to be entertaining, which is what's most important to HG organizers. After all, what if there were a scoreboard for the Worlds? HG is most competitive in the US so it wouldn't surprise me  if 9 of 10 spots would be all Yanks, so the Worlds then becomes another Nats' (and by the latest count, there's five of those, including Richmond and Stone).

I agree totally. The "Worlds" should be the best throwers in the World! Speaking as a Canadian, a few of the boys last year probably shouldn't have been there competing in the Worlds, but I don't make the rules. To keep the intengrity of the games the World Championship should be just that, the Best of the Best. One possibly two athletes representing their respective country with the host country allowed up to four athletes but only if they are capable of competing at that level. Up to a maximum of 12-15 competitors.

If Betz is not at the Celtic Classic, there is no reason he should not be throwing at the Worlds. I think not bringing the best that are available limits the quality of the competition.

Pat, how come your not throwing at the Worlds this year? And where is Matt?

Jim Garrick

Alberta Scottish Athletic Association

Jim, I am not competing this year due to the Champs not having enough budget to get me to the venue. It is unfortunate that this has happened but I can understand where they are coming from. It is not easy getting sponsorship to get the best athletes from around the WORLD there. Never mind hopefully we will be back in the mix at next years champs if invited. I think Mat is taking a year off competing. We have a games in Sydney, Australia at the end of September so will be catching up with Mat and the Southern Hemisphere throwers there.

Pat