Karen's deselection

On January 20, British Curling issued a statement which indicated that Karen Addison (above) had been deselected from the Team GB Olympic curling squad. That statement is here.

A couple of days before (here), I had speculated that Karen's non-appearance at the Glynhill Ladies International was indicative that something serious had happened within the British Curling ranks. The facts of what had happened were a mystery to me. Had it been Karen's own decision to leave the squad, or had she been asked to leave? And what had brought things to this point? The official statement added little. Nor did Katie Still's interview with Team Coach Nancy Murdoch, see here.

Karen is keen to clarify her position, and says, "I am being continually asked what actually happened and feel that releasing a statement will hopefully put it to rest."

This is her statement today:

"As recent media reports and statements made by British Curling have left it largely unclear as to the circumstances regarding my exit from Team GB, I would like to clarify that this was a de-selection decision by British Curling, confirmed in a letter I received from Derek Brown, Performance Director, stating the following:

'British Curling Selection Panel met on Saturday 9th January 2010 to discuss your position in the GB Women’s Curling Team. It is with regret that the panel, Chaired by Mike Gillespie, has taken the decision to de-select you under the following criteria:-

Attitude
Team chemistry/cohesion

This de-selection will take effect immediately. We very much regret having to take this decision but it was felt unanimously by the panel that we had no other option'.

The Selection Panel was made up of Derek Brown, Nancy Murdoch and the non-voting Chairman.

I chose not to challenge the Selection Panel’s decision, through Sports Resolution (UK), to seek re-instatement to the team as I felt that relations between the two parties had deteriorated so rapidly and to the extent that they could not have been successfully repaired before the Olympic Games, even if my appeal was successful.

Reconvening of the Selection Panel was the result of a conversation with the Performance Director in early January where I raised what I believed to be very legitimate concerns regarding the quality of the programme delivered and my preparation as 5th player for the Olympic Games.

My relationship with the members of the team remains intact and I wish the girls every success in Vancouver.

Karen Addison"

Karen's pic is by Bob from the European Championships 2009 at Aberdeen

Annie Laird now in Olympic squad

Karen Addison, above, will not travel to Vancouver as the fifth player for Eve Muirhead's Olympic curling team. Karen was named as the alternate back in May (see here, and here) and has travelled and played with the squad since. But she did not go to Bern recently, nor was she to be seen at the Glynhill Ladies International last weekend, leading to speculation that she might have left the squad, see here.

That has been confirmed today. The press release from British Curling says,
"Karen Addison, formally selected in December 2009 as fifth player in the women’s team – a non-playing role – has been withdrawn from Great Britain’s women’s curling team for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, which start on 12th February.

She will be replaced by Annie Laird, a world champion from the 2002 team skipped by Jackie Lockhart, who herself will play at third in the 2010 Olympic team.

As a result of the transition, British Curling (the organisation charged with preparing Britain’s Olympic curling teams) nominated these changes to the British Olympic Association (BOA) for ratification. British Curling can therefore confirm that, following the necessary processes, including time for Karen to appeal the decision, Karen Addison has been deselected from the Team GB women’s curling team.

Although given the opportunity, Karen, who had previously expressed reservations around her role in the team, chose not to appeal this decision.

British Curling has now replaced Karen with Annie Laird, and both of these changes have now been ratified by the BOA. British Curling would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen for her contribution to the programme and to wish her all the best for the future. We will continue to offer her our full support for the remainder of the season.

Commenting, Chris Hildrey, Chair of British Curling said, “We are confident that this change will not impact on performance in Vancouver as it concerns a change to the alternate position, rather than the team on the ice. The fifth player provides cover in the event of illness or injury, and we believe Annie is an excellent new alternate who can provide the necessary back-up. We wish this new line-up every success.”

The role of the alternate player in competitive curling has always been somewhat controversial. The fifth has to be a cheerleader and supporter of those on the ice, help the coach in a variety of other activities such as during the practice sessions, and the late night stone testing. They have to be able to play in the team should one of the others be ill or injured. This happened at the weekend when the USA's Olympic Team alternate Tracy Sachtjen was brought on when lead Natalie Nicholson was ill on the Saturday evening.

Then of course, there is, these days, the possibility that the alternate will be used if another team member is not playing well. The 'tactical substitution' is favoured by some, and abhorred by others. As a traditionalist, I'm in the latter camp, but what do I know! I can only see that it can do nothing for team morale, unless of course the five players, and coach, are very close and understand each others thinking on this. Lack of that, and you get Vernon. Enough said. What had been discussed about Karen's role in the GB team, and how she would be used, I have no idea.

It certainly appears from what has been written in the press release that Karen has been unhappy with her role. But for how long? Things must have become quite fraught for it have come to today's events. But that's speculation for the future, and all will no doubt be discussed when those in charge start thinking about the next Olympic cycle, and how Team GB will be found for Sochi 2014.

I'm saddened at having to write all this. And I can only imagine how much a distraction this has been for Eve, Jackie Lockhart, Kelly Wood and Lorna Vevers, as they prepare to set out for their holding camp in Canada.

Annie Laird takes Karen's place, and I wish her best wishes in her role. Good luck to our new GB five!

The BOA's Team GB website for the Vancouver Games is now active. I guess a few changes will need to be made. Karen Addison is the first athlete listed in the GB team. I note she celebrated her 39th birthday yesterday.

Top photo is of Karen Addison practising at the Le Gruyere European Curling Championships in Aberdeen. The photo above is of Annie Laird competing at the Glynhill Ladies International at Braehead this weekend. Both are © Bob Cowan

What's happened to Karen?

Karen Addison, above, the fifth player in the GB Olympic curling team headed for Vancouver next month, has not been seen with the other team members for the past two weekends. Her absence at the Glynhill Ladies International at Braehead at the weekend led to much speculation amongst the other teams and curling fans. I understand too that it was the talk of the steamie at Perth too, at the men's championship qualifying.

Was she ill? That didn't seem to be the simple explanation. I asked where she was, and I was told that nothing could be said there and then but a statement would be made. No statement has appeared.

There is speculation that Karen has left the Olympic Squad. Could that possibly be true? If so, why? Is it anything to do with British Curling's performance director Derek Brown, who is still embroiled in a legal battle stemming from what happened at the World Championships in Vernon, back in 2008, in his capacity then as the Scottish National Coach? It was Karen Addison who stepped into the head then and skipped the remnants of the Scottish team to two victories which helped secure the British place in the 2010 Olympics. Would it not be ironic if disagreements with Brown now are somehow involved?

The speculation is that Karen has been unhappy that she's not had the opportunity to play recently. Have there been conflicts with Team Coach, Nancy Murdoch? But I don't know. It does seem odd that the Olympic fifth player would not be match ready.

One thing is true. When something like this happens, the tendency of those in charge is to retreat within themselves and say nothing. Bad idea. Letting gossip go unchecked just makes it worse in the long term. And of course the situation is complicated by the fact that the teams are now the responsibility of the British Olympic Association.

But let's make no mistake, this is an incident of extreme importance. British Curling has had years to get it right - that we field the best prepared teams at the Olympics. Every opportunity has been taken to say what a good job has been done. The men's team has always been a team and of course chose their own alternate, Graeme Connal, although he had not originally been selected for the Olympic squad of six. Although not everything has gone right for them on the ice this busy season, all the signs are that the team is coming to form at the right time.

The women's team has been manufactured, and with no great expectations at first, has grown into an outfit of which we can all be proud. I watched Karen hard at work late into the night at Aberdeen, testing out stones and generally doing all the work expected as a fifth player, and indeed able to step on to the ice and play in any position should the need arise. I can only surmise that behind the scenes recently problems have arisen. That's sad.

Remember, this is all speculation. It could be that the delay in any announcement appearing is that efforts are being made to get Karen to change her mind. Who knows. If she does and the squad remains intact, that would be great of course. Am I wrong, do you think, in bringing all this to the fore now, when we don't know what has happened today or what will happpen tomorrow? There will undoubtedly be some who think I am. But I believe firmly that you should never hide the truth, however difficult the situation. There were lots of people asking the same question as me at the weekend, "Where's Karen?" And being fobbed off with no answer. Make no mistake, these are people who are 100% behind our Olympic efforts, as am I.

If Karen has gone, who will get the call as a replacement fifth player? The precedent is there, as with the men, for the women to chose their own alternate. But there is so little time left. Lynn Cameron was the sixth member of the squad when it was first announced. She was then discarded, and has moved on in her own curling career. Now as a rival of the Muirhead team in the Columba Cream Scottish Ladies Championship (as Claire Milne's third) she is not interested in any call to come back. She is already an Olympian, lead in Team GB in 2006. She's been there, done that. Current European Mixed champion of course. Joining the Team GB Squad now, I suspect, holds little attraction.

The talk seems to be that Annie Laird would be asked. That's her above, in the pink jacket, substituting for the Sarah Reid team at the weekend.

Annie is an experienced player. She played lead for the Jackie Lockhart team which won the World Championship in 2002. But the fact remains that if Annie, or indeed whoever goes to Vancouver as the fifth, and because of illness or injury is called on to play, it would mean that Great Britain would be represented by four players who have never, ever, been on the ice together as a foursome in competition. What an absolute nonsense that would be!

It really is a distraction for Eve, Jackie, Kelly and Lorna who, even this past weekend, showed that they have the talent and class to compete against the best in the world. Nothing like this should be interfering with their preparations.

The timing of it all could not be worse. On Wednesday, Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland and Sports Minister, Shona Robison, will team up in Stirling to extend Scotland's best wishes to all our winter sports athletes who have been selected to represent Team GB at the forthcoming Winter Olympic Games. A press release has been circulated.

In it, Chris Hildrey, the British Curling Chairman, says, "I'd like to congratulate the curlers on their selection for Team GB as we enter the final stages of preparation for medal success in Vancouver. The passion, commitment and professionalism they have displayed over recent months has been admirable and with their selection now confirmed, they will be able to focus efforts on achieving the ultimate goal in Vancouver, whilst hopefully enjoying the Olympic experience." Hasn't turned out that way, has it? I asked Chris by email today when the statement promised me yesterday would appear. He did not give me an answer.

Well, that's how I see it tonight, in the absence of any official statement.

Photos by Bob