posted Jan 8th, 2014 - The 4way fans in the United Kingdom must have come out in force to vote for Kaizen as the top team in 4way Women at the end of the year.

The Sun Path Products NSL News story on 30 December 2013 mentioned that "UK teams in the female 4way category are used to competing for gold medals, and Kaizen might not even think about the 3rd place". That is obviously the case, at least supported by the current results of the 4way Women poll. Kaizen has a solid lead.

Kaizen posted the impressive 17.9 average at the end of August at the UK Nationals 2013, and there has been plenty of time for training ever since. Kaizen may have used it and passed the 20-average level by now. However, the vote is a strong statement and makes the situation even more interesting.

UK Nationals 2013		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	19,4,1	15,J,7	C,Q,17,12	L,13,10	9,G,20	H,11,2	K,8,21	P,6,M,14	N,E,5,16	O,F,A,22	Total	Avg
3	Kaizen (UK)	15	20	18	12(-1)	19	17	17	20	19	22	179	17.9
4	Bodyflight Isis (UK)	14(-1)	19	14	14	19	17	15	20	17	25	174	17.4

It would be no surprise to see Kaizen come back to the next outdoor competition above the 20-average level. The progression under coach Pete Allum's guidance has been impressive and shows no slowdown. There are only two factors that question the UK top position at the moment: Aerodyne French Girls and Golden Knights.

Both top teams of 2013 have been pushing each other and know that they cannot stop if they want to win gold medals in the Czech Republic this August. The Golden Knights have hired Solly Williams to provide coaching services throughout the world meet. The French Girls have their busiest team season scheduled.

The first answers to the ranking questions and Kaizen's current position will come soon, as the UK team travels to Spain this month to visit coach Pete Allum and attend the indoor competition in Empuriabrava. That's where the French Girls will also post their first 2014 scores.

The reigning French world champions in the female 4way category will first offer the European teams an easy way to test the French waters early in the year. After that the French Girls will travel first to North Carolina and then to Florida and offer the Golden Knights the opportunity for the first showdown this year at the Paraclete XP Indoor and Outdoor Championship meet package.

The French Girls will be well prepared for the indoor and outdoor double header competition after a 2-week training camp in Arizona right after the indoor competition in Spain. The French world travel continues after the visit in DeLand, as the World Challenge 2014 at Bodyflight Bedford will be next. That's a lot of competition practice in a short amount of time.

The French Girls have the scoring and performance level of the legendary Deep Blue lineup in their minds. Deep Blue had a reunion of the original lineup last year in Bedford and won with a 23.6 average. They may have to skip the 2014 event though, as Sophie Boulongne Deremaux is finally completing the new Deep Blue generation. But that's another story...