EUROPEAN MASTERS AND WORLD GAMES

1st January 2005

Dear Masters Divers, Coaches, Supporters,

EUROPEAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS – STOCKHOLM – 16-19th AUGUST 2005
WORLD MASTERS GAMES – EDMONTON, CANADA – 25-28th JULY 2005

Stockholm Accommodation Form   Stockholm Schedule & Requirements   Edmonton Accommodation Form   Edmonton Requirements

Happy New Year to you all. As you can see from the title I’m putting together something for both of this year’s international Masters events. I appreciate that they may seem a long way off, but as usual forward planning is essential for our trips to be successful. Forms and requirements for both events are available by clicking the links in the box. Please complete and return forms to me by 31st January. As you can see, both events are fairly close together so if any of you are planning to do both then you will have to think hard about how long you stay in Canada either before or after the Games.

Stockholm:
We had a great trip to Riccione back in the summer of 2004. Good team spirit and excellent results, nearly everyone travelling in and out on the same day, and everyone in the same (well nearly the same) hotel. We hope to repeat all this in Stockholm but it can only happen if we work together as a group once more. Diving events start on Tuesday 16th August, ending on Friday 19th. My plan is to fly on Saturday 13thAugust returning on Saturday 20th (if you wish to travel on different days its not a problem, so long as I know for accommodation purposes). Low cost flights are available with companies such as Ryan Air (£1.98 each way plus tax as of today), slightly more expensive with BA, SAS (but still under £100). British Midland also fly to Stockholm, but more expensive. Obtaining group rates for flights is no longer as cost effective as booking independently, therefore I propose that you book your own flights. The earlier you book the more likely you are to secure the cheaper priced seats.

Accommodation in Stockholm is available via the Event’s official organising agency, or I can book independently. In any event I propose to book for the whole group. In order to secure the best deal possible it is important that you complete and return the Accommodation Form to me soon as possible, but not later than 31st January, so that I know how many rooms I should be looking for. As before, I will look for the best possible location/cost. However, I will not be looking at hostel accommodation following the experience of some of you at the Summer Masters in Dublin. The official agency list very few hotels so I have been looking independently and will compare costings at the beginning of February. Depending on the hotel chosen either deposits or full cost will have to be paid at the time of booking, so I will need to rely on you being punctual with all requests for money. You were all great with payments last year!

Edmonton – July:
Much like our New Zealand trip in 2002 when only 5 GB divers competed, I don’t expect a big take up here and propose only to book accommodation for the duration of stay in Edmonton with people making their own flight and touring arrangements. Once again I would need to have your commitment to this fairly early on so that I can fix up something. Please complete the Edmonton form and return to me by 31st January.

There are no direct flights into Edmonton by British Carriers, however you can fly direct with Zoom, which is Air Canada’s Easyjet / Ryanair / BMIBaby equivalent. At the present time BA have a sale on and flights to Toronto and Vancouver are around the £300 mark. British Midland also have reasonably priced flights into Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. Onward internal travel would then need to be sourced.

I would plan on flying a couple of days before the start of training in order to acclimatise – time difference, getting to Edmonton from Canadian arrival gateway, orientation around Edmonton area etc – and then leave a day or so after the diving has finished, either to fly back home or to tour around Alberta and perhaps British Columbia. The Rockies are nearly on the doorstop and something not to miss having made the trip that far.

Coaches:
Any coaches wishing to be considered as a team coach should indicate in writing to Jan Isherwood by the end of January which event they are able to attend.

Jan can be reached at 26 Seddon Road, Garston, Liverpool, L19 2JO, or on e-mail: janisherwood@btconnect.com.

Once there is an indication of how many divers are going to each event a decision will be made on how many coaches will be needed.

So, to clarify: I need, by the end, of January your commitment to these events by way of the completed forms. Once I have numbers I will source hotels and will let you know where and when I will be booking and, depending on the arrangements the hotels/agents wish to put in place, ask you for payment by return of a nominal deposit or full payment. As for previous events, Coach contribution will be calculated on the basis of transport and accommodation multiplied by number of coaches and divided up equally between all the divers.

Look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any queries, please drop me a line or give me a call (not after 9.30pm please). If there is anything you think I should change or can improve on from our Italian trip, please let me know.

Regards,
Jenni Cluskey

5 Eunice Grove
Chesham
Buckinghamshire
HP5 1RL

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