BEST IN THE WEST 2
In September 2017, we headed out West to watch Mel compete for the title of Best In The West.
This was the second year the competition had been held, the year before I had 3 athletes competing.
The comp is a notoriously heavy, all female competition.
This year, the events being tested where:
1 220kg Yoke Max Distance (60 seconds)
2 Viking Press rising bar (60 seconds)
3 Conan's Wheel
4 Mas Wrestling
5 Natural Stone Loading
The day had many highs and lows for Mel. Still new to competing and coming off a 2nd place finish at ASA Nationals, I felt Mel's training leading up to the event saw her stronger than ever, and a true chance of winning.
Mel took wins in the Yoke and Conan's Wheel, dropped a lot of points in the Mas Wrestling with a last place finish, and lost points due to an athlete being able to repeat an event, claiming technical difficulties on her first attempt.
This judging decision made a huge difference in the overall points, and although Mel had chances to win the competition on her own accord, those valuable points that went missing left her in 2nd place overall on the day.
As her coach, I feel I truly let her down by not knowing this repeat attempt was happening. By the time I found out, it was too late. I will not let that happen in the future.
I believe if equipment failure or something out of the athletes control disrupts the event, then they may ask for a redo.
IF the organisers allow this person to redo their attempt, ALL OTHER ATHLETES should be offered the same. It is far too big an advantage to have practiced an event, and seen everyone else scores. Athletes can accept or decline the offer to redo their attempt, but the offer NEEDS to be made. I ask the question, if that athlete had done worse on her second attempt, would they have kept that score, or allowed her to keep her first score?
Regardless, Mel did amazing and has earned the right to compete at the Arnold Classi in March 2018 with 6 other VSC athletes.
She also smashed her foot on the last stone loading attempt. An injury that took quite a while for her to recover.
She will be hard to beat at the Arnolds.
This was the second year the competition had been held, the year before I had 3 athletes competing.
The comp is a notoriously heavy, all female competition.
This year, the events being tested where:
1 220kg Yoke Max Distance (60 seconds)
2 Viking Press rising bar (60 seconds)
3 Conan's Wheel
4 Mas Wrestling
5 Natural Stone Loading
The day had many highs and lows for Mel. Still new to competing and coming off a 2nd place finish at ASA Nationals, I felt Mel's training leading up to the event saw her stronger than ever, and a true chance of winning.
Mel took wins in the Yoke and Conan's Wheel, dropped a lot of points in the Mas Wrestling with a last place finish, and lost points due to an athlete being able to repeat an event, claiming technical difficulties on her first attempt.
This judging decision made a huge difference in the overall points, and although Mel had chances to win the competition on her own accord, those valuable points that went missing left her in 2nd place overall on the day.
As her coach, I feel I truly let her down by not knowing this repeat attempt was happening. By the time I found out, it was too late. I will not let that happen in the future.
I believe if equipment failure or something out of the athletes control disrupts the event, then they may ask for a redo.
IF the organisers allow this person to redo their attempt, ALL OTHER ATHLETES should be offered the same. It is far too big an advantage to have practiced an event, and seen everyone else scores. Athletes can accept or decline the offer to redo their attempt, but the offer NEEDS to be made. I ask the question, if that athlete had done worse on her second attempt, would they have kept that score, or allowed her to keep her first score?
Regardless, Mel did amazing and has earned the right to compete at the Arnold Classi in March 2018 with 6 other VSC athletes.
She also smashed her foot on the last stone loading attempt. An injury that took quite a while for her to recover.
She will be hard to beat at the Arnolds.