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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
Re: POPHAM CALLS IT A DAY Jan 19, 2006
By email to letters2006@irishcycling.com
19 Feb 2006,
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Downhill riders have long been the most successful Irish Cyclists. For world class athletes like Jamie Popham, Ben Reid, John Lawlor, Daniel Wolfe and Glynn O'Brien not to be receiving financial support is a disgrace and those of us with the ability to do something about it should be embarrassed and angry that we are losing one of our greatest Competitors because of something as banal as money. I refuse to accept the current situation and I will use every ounce of my passion for the sport to find someway to change the current situation. It is a typically Irish illness that we neglect our best.. Downhill is the future of Irish Cycling. For the size of our population and the tiny community of riders that we have we have riders flying the Irish Flag in World Cups, European Champs, World Champs.. can we say the same about other Irish Athletes.. I doubt it there’s no sport in the world that has the same respect for Irish Athletes like the Downhill Community has for the Irish..
We have riders on the brink of International Success.. I firmly believe we can produce a World Champion.. Its so close we can nearly taste it.. Ben Reid is 19..he could be the next Steve Peat.. and a few thousand euro can't be thrown his way to help him. Shocking.. Dan Wolfe is 17 and the best Rider I've ever seen, his brother Ger has so much potential it makes the hairs on my neck stand up.. as for John and Glyn.. their combined experience at a high international level far outstrips any other Irish Cyclist.. and we as part of the Sports governing body are we going to just let them be left high and dry without any assistance ? Its a terrible thing that we will be saying if only..
Yours in Mountainbiking
Richie Byrne (19 Jan 06)
Chairman EPICmtb
MTB Commission underage development Officer
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Reply (16 Feb 06)
I would just like to say. I don`t know the guy but i agree it is a total disgrace that more money is not being put into Irish downhill racing when there is so much talent there like Ben Reid and Popham. Why not set up a downhill training camp or house, (similar to the road riding base for Irish riders in Belgium) in a large mountain bike area that could help these riders reach their full potential? I think something needs to be done.
Michael McCutcheon
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Reply (19 Feb 06)
I couldn't agree more with Richie Byrne and Michael McCutcheon. Some of our top athletes aren't getting the recognition and funding they deserve. Surely we should be doing more to encourage the next generation of world class athletes to further themselves. What kind of message does it send out to the up and coming underage riders who look up to the likes of Popham, Lawlor and Reid if they can't get the support from those in positions of influence in Irish cycling.
I doubt many of the riders being funded to go to the Belgium academy are half as accomplished as these downhillers who don't get a penny. Ireland has some of the best trails and riders in the world but we're letting politics get in the way of their dreams which they would surely fulfill if given the chance. Maybe mountain biking needs its own association in Ireland so that it stops being looked down upon as the poorer ugly sister to road racing and that the riders finally get the recognition they deserve.
Sincerely
Rory Koehler
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