twenty five set for melbourne
So for the first time ever England did not fill its quota of swimming spots for a Commonwealth Games following a relatively underwhelming final trial in Swansea last week. Twenty-five of the available thirty one spots have been allocated for a team that faces the unenviable task of competing with the Australian squad on their home turf - a challenge not for the faint hearted.
Cynics may say that it is because of this challenge that the management see next year's European Long Course Championships as a meet that should be targeted ahead of the Melbourne competition. This is borne out by the stated aim in the selection policy for that meet to select the largest possible squad and the decision to use a minimum qualification standard of top 25 in the world as opposed to top 16 in the world for automatic selection to the Commonwealth Games.
But leaving selection quibbles aside, there is still cause for optimism in some areas after a relatively youthful squad emerged from the Stage 3 meet in Swansea. The numbers may have been down on many expectations, but many of the next generation came through unscathed and will make their international debuts down under. Most notably Fran Halsall, the young sprinter from City of Liverpool, distance ace Kerri-Anne Payne of Stockport Metro and butterflyer Terri Dunning of City of Birmingham get their first opportunities on the senior long course stage, the former pair gaining nomination off the back of their trials performances in August, while Dunning made the grade in Swansea.
The squad will however be shorn of all but two of the gold medal winners from Manchester. James Goddard, winner of the 200m backstroke in 2002, was nowhere to be seen in Swansea, while a further two have retired in the shape of Sarah Price and Karen Pickering. Adam Whitehead must rank as the most unlucky of the group; in just about any other Commonwealth country the 2002 champion over 100m breaststroke would be assured of a place but the depth of talent in England at present has relegated him to fourth in line for the three available spots. With Zoe Baker now competing for New Zealand, only James Gibson and Rebecca Cooke will be present to defend their titles in the 50m breaststroke and distance freestyle disciplines respectively.
If the established names in the squad, the best medal hopes are clear. If the speculation about his availability remains just that, Simon Burnett will be a real contender in the sprint freestyle events, although of course, the likes of Ian Thorpe and Roland Schoeman loom large over that discipline. Mark Foster can never be discounted over the 50m events, despite his patchy long course form this year he remains a big-time performer and will no doubt rise to the occasion. Elsewhere Liam Tancock, world bronze medallist over 50m backstroke in 2005, will have his sights firmly set on Australia's Matt Welsh and should feature in the medal shake up for 100m event as well.
The Men's breaststroke squad as usual looks good on paper, and has the advantage of competing in the stroke where the Australians are relatively weak. Chris Cook is the pick of the bunch on 2005 form, but there is pedigree in James Gibson and Darren mew if they can resurrect their best form and all three should be in medal contention.
Rebecca Cooke is another who will compete in one of Australia's weaker areas, but will be pushed hard by teammate Jo Jackson over 400m if she is to defend that particular title, while Canada's Brittany Reimer will start as favourite for both that and the 800m freestyle.
Elsewhere on the women's side Kate Haywood showed solid form in Swansea, even if it wasn't quite enough to gain automatic selection, and may find herself in a race for the minor breaststroke medals, wile Katy Sexton could find herself lining up against 2002 teammate Jo Fargus in the backstroke races. Fargus beat Sexton home in the 200m event four years ago but has yet to negotiate the Australian trials, for an event in which the green and gold is starting to improve.
With the squad yet to be officially confirmed by the Commonwealth Games Council of England, there may still be late changes, but there remain many medal hopes in those nominated. That said, with the vociferous home support this time behind the Australian team, the England team will need to find something special between now and March if they are to climb atop the medal dais in more than a few events.