Three questions!

[Tiz]

Firstly is there any truth in the rumour that Scotland may change the individuals with Scottish grandparents rule?
Secondly, how big will the team be that they are sending to the commonwealths e.g. relays etc.
Thirdly, What is the selection policy when are the trials etc.
Thanx.

[lane4]

To answer your questions:

1) the grandparent rule has already been scrapped; to swim for scotland you must now have a scottish parent, have been born here or lived here for more than 6 months

2) the team will be as big as all those who meet the selection times, i estimate around about 20 in total, it will include some very good swimmers who have medal chances too, in particular Balfour, Sheppard, Coull, Tait, Edmond.

3) the selection policy has not been published yet (yes I agree that is shambolic), it has been formulated but cannot go out to clubs/coaches/swimmers yet as there are some changes to times to make after world champs this year. There will be various Trials including Scottish champs in March, British Trials in April, Glasgow GO final and British Super GP.

[Tiz]

Thanx for answering! What are the qualifying times though? Are they as for the scottish elite squad or the ones set by the commonwealth games comittee?

[lane4]

The times are based on 7th position from Commonwealth countries in the World rankings based on 3 per nation. 50m times will be calculated from this year's world rankings after the world champs. All the other times are based on 7th Commonwealth place in 2000 world rankings. So you could work them out if you have the rankings and the time and inclination to do it. Or I could tell you as I have a copy of them - but then SASA regulations would mean I have to kill you as it would be very wrong to let clubs, coaches and swimmers know them! ;-)

[Tiz]

That sounds like there won't be that many going! Esp. with 2000 being an olympic year and the strength of the Aussie's!!
Wot about relays?

[lane4]

Not exactly sure how relay times have been worked out but its something similar. The womens 4 x 100 medley team (Coull, Balfour, Martin, Sheppard) would already have qualified from their times this year but obviously they will have to repeat this next year.

Individually there are some faster pre-selection times that swimmers can do this year. Smith, Sheppard, Edmond and Tait have already done these.

For the other minimum selection times that have to be done next year, Jameson, Cole, Carry, Coull, Hunter and Balfour have done them this year.

Further strong challenges can be expected from the likes of Leith, Martin, Cornish, Black, Hay, Cooper, Ritchie, Jones and a few more to boot.

It wont be so small after all.

[Paul]

I come under Scotland on the British ranking lists only because my Granddad is Scottish. I haven't been told any different and I only registered recently??? Where has all this come from?