IN reply to HHS....your post clearly states to me you know nothing of what is really going on in the international curling world! and clearly neither do "some" of the other ill informed posters either .....the 4 other GB players I'm sure are not worried by Kelly and Lorna's visit to Vancouver. Lynn couldn't attend due to work committments (I believe), Eve is already there! and Kaz and Jackie will fly to Korea to play the worlds and in their professionalism did not go in order to prevent increased jet lag! Ok that answers that.......... NOW please no more speculation.

You seem to be in the know so i thank you for answering my first question and would respectfully invite you to answer my second question - 'why do they need to be there at all?

Buns

Well since the Olympics are going to be played in the same stadium do you not think it is a good idea for them to be out there to get an initial understanding of the venue and any issues they might face so that they can act on them before they get there in 2010?? Seems like a bit of forethought to me - something which others are asking for more of.

I thought you were pulling my chain OTB, so i checked for myself. Should have known better than to doubt you.
I can not believe that the most important report to affect the Royal club and its members in years is so quickly being pushed to one side. The royal club should be promoting this as there main head line till the end of the season, encouraging as many members as possible to read it and embracing it's findings. Only by doing this can curling learn and move forward in the right direction. Come on Royal club, stand tall, admit mistakes were made, be proud and tell the members that lessons will be learnt and that you are striving to push our game forward in the right direction but please do not try and sweep this under the carpet. It will only make you look weak and very foolish.

Had considered putting this on the World Juniors thread but decided it probably suited this one better and I merely ask the questions.

Graeme Black's individual stats are not too impressive at the moment. Will the coaching staff be considering dropping him, either down the team or all together, and bringing in their fifth player?

Or will they allow this great young curler to continue, to give him the chance to improve and to savour the experience of the 'worlds' and learn/benefit from it?

Having taken a good deal of time reading through the report and considering it's conclusions it's difficult to bring anything new to this discussion at the moment.  I have been calling for the publication of this quite openly on here for a while now and it's difficult to know what to take on it after first reading.  Here are a coupe of my thoughts though:

1: Far too many people went to Vernon on the pretence of representing Scotland and I include players, coaches, HHY's and support staff in this.  For something that outwardly projects a professional approach the coaching and support side of the party it seems would be better saving their air fares.

2: The fact that an unfunded team would win the Scottish was not considered a possibility, sheer arrogance in my view from the powers that be.

3: A clear lack of preparation for an event such as this was undertaken, see again under support staff.

4: Kudos for the statement on the RCCC website in which Bob Tait opens up and tells us everything he can at this point.  I have been harping on about being open and he's done that.

5: How can no-one knowabout the RCCC ethics manual, even I've heard of it.  Perhaps it should be given, sorry issued as a compulsory cost to all club secretaries much like the annuals?

6: Consideration should be given to the position of Derek Brown, and I wonder if the previous experience of dealing with people in their previous employments should be considered.  After all some jobs can demand respect, others simply earn it.

7:  Finally I was one of the people who lost the keyboard and started ranting and raving about the conduct of Mrs Munro and Mrs Wilson when this story broke last year.  I stated a great deal of opinion based on the information that was on the RCCC website at the time.  The report shows that this comment, due to the lack of communication again, was incorrect as far as I'm concerned.  I'm big enough to say that I was wrong and apologise unreservedly for the comments that I made about the lack of participation on the part of the two ladies.  It would appear that I was wrong and I am sorry.

8.  OTB you spotted the fact that the link was hidden around the same time as me, glad someone else got that in.