The following letter was received by our office and we look forward to any further opinions on the issue of Australian Teams.

Dear Jan,
I felt strongly after reading your editorial and hope you publish this response. My family are not knocking on the door for selection to the World games, we are unbiased when it comes to others being selected, we are not worldly in how it operates overseas, we are not even in the position to go and watch but we would love an Australian team there!

We are the mugs striving every weekend to continue in our chosen sport AND WE ARE PROUD!! WE ARE PROUD OF OUR FELLOW COMPETITORS WHETHER D GRADERS OR WORLD CUPPERS, AND WE ARE PROUD OF THE VOLUNTARY OFFICIALS THAT ARE THERE EACH WEEKEND. They are not articulate in defense of what they do but it is inspiring and it DEFINATELY merits striving for the impossible. If you don’t dream- you don’t achieve. I suggest you watch the Anthony Hopkins movie The Worlds Fastest Indian.

For what its worth- my background leads me to the following observations. The “seesaw effect” in the sport of riding is rife. If I can point out your weakness or fault- you go down and I go up. Even though they are entirely unrelated!

The way overseas does everything according to some people is always better- but heres a novel thought ....... Who cares- it is allowed to be different!!! (Our eventing was better and they changed the rules to suit so they can compete more successfully against NZ & Australia! )

There are pluses to the way we do things as well as negatives The people I respect that have been overseas say the riding is not that much better – but the horses are. The depth of expertise stops with the actual riders unlike Australia where the expertise continues through all the ranks of riders, handlers parents etc. That the way the sport operates here – it is accessible to many more people than overseas etc etc. So it works in positives not just the negatives.

Jan, you are extremely predictable and negative in your reporting of Australian showjumping. You are entitled to your point of view but as a media representative, if you seriously take yourself as one, you must look past that prejudice sometimes. We can be proud of what we have and keep developing. We can look at overseas and learn but we do not have to cringe about where we are!

The money saved if a team is not selected is also an argument against going to the World Cup. This money doesn’t seem get to the grassroots anyway so the money shouldn’t be used as an argument not to go!

No sport could survive- whether the racing industry, football, olympics etc. if the only ones allowed to compete were the "winners!" There are always: the sure to be in it; the could be a rough chance; the never likelys (!!)- but that is sport. And the swimmers, the athletes, all talk about their PBs. Australian SJing may not be in the top ten yet so what... The swimmer from the African nation that gets to the end of his heat last by laps - still gets applause in recognition of his endeavour and his right to be there.

You cant ever get there if you chose not to try. So selectors- my plea to you is have the courage to do your job- select the Australian team on its merits forget cultural cringe, or being answerable to the Jans of this world. Whatever result the team gets on the day of competition- you will have done your job in giving these riders the recognition they deserve as being the best in Australia.

Standing back until you are ready, is recognised in sports psychology, as a cop out. Get in, so what if you make mistakes, make a fool of yourself – you made it there. You are the best in Australia to be selected so go to the World Games, represent your country- we will be proud of whatever you achieve and good luck to Edwina, Rod, the selectors and hopefully – the team!

Annie White