Pennie no longer short-changed as Worlds and Euros loom large

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

FIONA Pennie admits the last 12 months have been a rollercoaster ride - but she insists the pain of 2009 can be the catalyst to London 2012 glory.

BOUNCING BACK: Fiona Pennie has endured a tough 12 months, but she's making big strides before her major competitions of the season

Pennie began last year as a shoe-in for the GB annual selection process having finished 17th at her debut Olympic Games in Beijing. However, the trials didn't go to plan and she found herself in international exile.

While the GB squad prepared themselves for international World Cup events and European Championships Pennie found herself not only frozen out but out of pocket due to a cut in her funding.

Pennie set the record straight at the GB trials on home soil in Nottingham in May where a timely return to form saw her re-selected for a busy summer schedule which throws up a European and World Championships and three World Cup series races.

She has already proved she warrants her place by winning a silver and a bronze at the opening two World Cup events in Prague and Barcelona respectively.

And while revealing her 2009 nightmare left her distraught, Pennie insists her exile will make her stronger in the years to come - most notably at the showpiece event in the capital in two years' time.

"It's definitely pleasing and relieving to have been selected on the team again because I was in a dark place last year when I didn't make the team," said Pennie.

"It was really hard to take and it has been a really long 12 months getting back to where I think I should be so I am pleased to be back in the team.

"It was the same sort of situation last year and it was very close and unfortunately I didn't make it.

"But ultimately that just shows the strength in depth we have in the sport at the minute and that is really good for everyone's development looking towards London 2012.

"In previous years it had been a bit easier to be selected to be on the team but that is not the case anymore and that was showed last year and it was the same this year.

"So I was delighted to be chosen for what is going to be a busy year and I am feeling confident going into it."