posted Jul 7th, 2008 - The French race for the slot as the national 4-way team in the female category seems to come to an end - despite ongoing weather problems. The weather conditions last weekend were similar to the previously scheduled qualification event in June, as IPC Delegate and First Vice President Gillian Winter reported on Saturday:

"The weather is aweful - rain and wind. We have managed one round of each discipline, and the girls, who are jumping for the selection in Maubeuge, have done four rounds although the last landing was pretty scary. Now we are on a weather hold."

The minimum number of rounds for only this special qualification event between the two female lineups is five.

Fortunately, Monday July 7 is also scheduled as a competition day in Vannes, France. National coach Jerome David is observing the competition very carefully, as well, and he hopes that Monday's weather will allow at least the completion of Round 5. Eventually, he will have to decide which team will represent France at the World Meet 2008.

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The decision will not be too difficult, as it seems after the first four rounds. Aerokart Deep Blue, the "Blues" (Sophie Deremaux, Bérangère Duplouy, Françoise Simons-Hamouchi, Amélie Tirman) have won each round and are 11 points ahead of White Nice Pujaut, the "Whites" (Christele Askew, Julie Levie, Emanuelle Nicols, Isabelle Sell Nore). It seems to be only a formality to complete the required fifth round and finally declare the Blues as the national 4-way team in the female category.

The Blues' 19.8 average is also confirming the scoring level where the team was expected to be at. The French 4-way team is one of the top contenders for the gold medals at this year's World Meet in Maubeuge. The remaining scores for possibly any additional rounds on Monday will be added as soon as they are available.

The field of the medal contenders in the female category turns out to be a little bit different than the NSL News reported earlier. The Joggy Bussy lineup (Alena Chistova, Katya Kharitonona, Vitalia Kupriyanenko, Anna Panasuk) who posted a 17.1 average at the Russian Nationals 2008, is not officially registered as the Russian national team in the female category.

Team Escape (Zhanna Kazakova, Varvara Sadovnikova, Maria Serova, Ekaterina Voronina, Elena Mazaeva on camera), with members of the former JetBats, is actually registered to compete for Russia at the World Meet in August. The JetBats 2007 lineup (Alena Chistova, Zhanna Kazakova, Vitaliya Kupriyanenko, Varvara Sadovnikova) won the silver medals for Russia at the World Cup 2007 with a 15.0 average.

Ekaterina Voronina was the alternate for the JetBats in 2007 and competed for Escape at the Russian Nationals this year. Maria Serova is new to the team and has competed with other teams in Russia before. Team Escape posted a 13.5 average in June.