My apologies, my broadband connection was non-existent for a few days for the house move. I'm back on line again and although I didn't see JJK's post  or Invicta's earlier, I do not see any need to moderate. After all, I'm a pratt too. In my opinion the Vernon Report said it all, the RCCC has said what they're going to say, Gail and Lyndsay are no longer bad and this subject is going on far too long. Unless someone has something new to add, leave well alone.

Look out, Canadian jumping in! (what the hell, if wee eddie can post on Curling Zone, I can here.  Besides my Mom's maiden name is McArton and this incident did happen in my home town-which you should all visit btw)

I'm going to cheat a bit here and use some of my post from curling zone on this topic.  I thought you might find the viewpoint of a Canuck who watched your team (and who has a bit of competitive experience under his belt) interesting.

The question then to be addressed is: If the Olympic points were so important, why did this National Coach not take every step and measure to ensure that this team was mentally and physically prepped BEFORE it left Scotland?  I can guarantee you that any Canadian Champ, bound for the Worlds, gets swamped with coaches and advisors before that plane leaves the tarmac.

I had the opportunity to watch this team in Vernon. Based on my own experience and what I saw they were nervous from the outset. And a nervous National Champion is one that has not been prepped on how to  deal with the added pressure of representing their country on the world stage.

But it wasn't just Munro, it was every member of the team struggling. Munro was left with so many difficult situations that the pressure and stress mounted to the point where a draw to the twelve foot became mentally as tough as hitting the pin for one when facing eight.

As your National Champions, they deserved the full backing and support of the Governing Body of their country. It is obvious from the Nicholson report that they did not receive such.

It is also obvious that a concerted effort was made by the National Coach at the time of his decision and afterwards, to pin the blame solely on Munro.

If Brown had done his job properly from the moment this team won the Scottish championship, and events had gone unchanged in Vernon then no one would question his decision. But by his own admission in the report he did virtually nothing with the team until they reached Vernon.

So let's call a spade a spade here; Munro's team was left to twist in the wind by its Governing Body and the National Coach. The only blame here is on those two parties. Both of whom should admit responsiblilty and publicly apologise to the entire Munro Team.

The RCCC stood up in front of their membership and admitted their failings and promised to improve, Gail has been vindicated and DB is still a xxxxx, but probably doesn't do it on purpose. We aren't here for very long, lets move onwards and upwards because too many have been consumed by this matter for far far too long and it really is time to look at the positive side of the sport.

I think that Gail and Lyndsay should make the final decision on whether the Vernon matter is now allowed to be put to one side.

Ladies?

Eddie is referring to the CurlingZone thread, in which Jamcan participated.

But I also had to smile when I noticed that Sweep Magazine's editor accompanied his piece (Scotland's Vernon Debacle -- Official Conclusion) on the magazine's blog recently with a pic of someone sweeping something under a carpet! See here:
http://www.sweepmag.com/

'O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!'

For those who didn't make it to the RCCC AGM - the notes of the meeting (including Vernon) are now on the RCCC website.

I'm getting "File not available" as well.

Works OK here just now and obviously also did earlier.