The Irish Sports Council today announced details of its carding scheme grants for 2001, under which nine Irish cyclists will receive a total of £37,200. Principal recipients were the Olympians David McCann, Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens, who each receive £9,000 after finishing in the top 60 in their events in Sydney.
Downhill mountain bike rider John Lawlor and Irish Under-23 road race champion David O’Loughlin both get £3,000, while Tim Cassidy receives £1,200. Daniel Lynch, Jonathan Kelly and Brian Ahern each qualify for a grant of £1,000.
However, the absence of two of Ireland’s strongest riders, Ciarán Power and Mark Scanlon is surprising, and illustrates the shortcomings of the current criteria for funding. Power graduated to the paid ranks last season and became the first Irish rider in seven years to finish one of cycling’s major tours, placing 5th and 6th on stages of the Tour of Italy along the way. The 1998 world junior champion Mark Scanlon is widely regarded as Ireland’s most promising rider in years and despite breaking his elbow last season recorded a dozen victories, including two stages in the international Tour of Hokkaido.
Both riders were left high and dry early this year after the collapse of the Linda McCartney professional team. However, while neither qualifies for funding under the carding scheme, it is thought that they will instead be able to obtain much-needed financial support through the Team Ireland project this season.
"We are in ongoing discussions with the Sports Council with regard to broadening the criteria for future funding," says Ciarán McKenna of the ICF. "It (the ISC) has only been there a couple of years and it will take a bit of time to get things right. But in the meantime the two riders should be able to get money though Team Ireland."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
