Great Britain celebrates on the field in Spain last year after their second place finish earned them a berth in the ISF's 2010 women's world championship. (Photo courtesy of British Softball Federation)

THE ROAD TO CARACAS, GB STYLE
2010-04-09

A check of the countdown to the first pitch at the ISF XII Women’s World Championship (June 23-July 2 in Caracas, Venezuela) shows 75 more days until the tournament opens. For Great Britain that probably seems a long way off considering that a few months ago they felt like the impending entry deadline was towering over them as though everything was just days away.

Fast forward to today and the team has cleared significant hurdles to ensure that not only will they be an active participant in 2010’s big event, but that now they can focus on preparations primarily restricted to the playing field.

The Brits had surprised many – perhaps even themselves – with a second place finish in Valencia, Spain, at last year’s European Championship to clinch a berth in this year’s ISF tournament. However, not long after the celebration had ended, the reality set in of securing arrangements to be able to get to the world championship.

In a unique, but timely, development, their flights were for all intents and purposes covered, thanks to a winning entry in a “Great Britons” contest run by British Airways.

With one big challenge crossed off the list, the focus then turned toward additional financial responsibilities that the national governing body would have to tackle if it was to send its women’s team to Venezuela without having to ask the athletes to foot the bill themselves.

Roger Medwell, the chief executive of NP Aerospace heard about the Great Britain women’s team through his sister, who knows someone on the team. The former marathon runner announced that his company would provide £25,000 ($40,000) to help the softball team get to Venezuela.

“No one seems to have realized what an incredible performance it was for the GB women's team to qualify for the world championship,” Medwell said. “Our company tends to support underdogs and we like to help people who excel in their own field but are struggling for support. I'm really proud to be involved with this team.”

Thanks to NP Aerospace and British Airways, Great Britain will have a pre-world championship training camp in Florida (USA) in June. And then, thanks to American Airlines who reduced the total fare by $2000 to fly the Brits from Florida to Venezuela, it’s on to the ISF tournament to take on competitors from other countries that will have all found their way to the South American country, and then, according to the British Softball Federation, “Our growing number of young players in the UK will have a strong legacy to inherit as they move up through our junior programs and on to the senior team in years to come.”