Foreword Dany: ” I have seen these youngsters growing up in their sport since under age, each of them have dedicated their lives to our beloved cycling sport, and so pleased they get recognised, and rewarded for their hard work…The Lady Mary Peters Trust is helping each year so many athletes in different sports in the province of Ulster, and with this financial help also giving some relieve to the parents or guardians of this great youngsters. Also great to see Cycling Ireland continues his Junior Athlete Development programme, some very valuable resources coming available to the lucky 10 chosen!! And the Belgian Project Bursary awards will also continue in 2023…soon news how to enter, and selection criteria when entered (Half December) “
Cycling Ulster reported: Six cyclists who were among 60 young athletes representing over 15 different sports from across the province have received awards from the Mary Peters Trust at a special PWC hosted Athletes’ Academy. The cyclists receiving the awards have had strong performances throughout the year including Darren Rafferty who finished inside the top ten at the time trial events at the European Under 23 Championships and the Commonwealth Games. 2022 European Youth Olympians, Áine Doherty and Aliyah Rafferty also received awards along with Karl Rockett, Lucy Brown and Adam Rafferty. Cycling Ulster Executive Officer, Joanna Gray said: “I want to congratulate all of the young cyclists who were recipients of Mary Peters Trust Awards this year, It’s fantastic to see the progress they are making in the sport which requires dedication and commitment” “I would also like to thank the Mary Peters Trust for their continued support of our young cyclists and wish them all the best for the future.”
The current tranche of awards was presented by Lady Mary Peters, who this year marks 50 years since winning an Olympic Pentathlon Gold in Munich, alongside MPT Chair, Barry Funston and Alchemy Technologies CEO, John Harkin. Athletes were joined by parents and family members as well as MPT Board Directors; Jim Kirkwood, Eilish Rutherford, Ken Nixon, Julie Hastings and Awards Team Chair, Will Doggart. For more info of the trust go to https://marypeterstrust.org/
2023 Cycling Ireland Athlete Development Programme
Cycling Ireland can confirm that ten riders will take part in the 2023 Junior Athlete Development Programme. “Now in its fourth year, the programme is an evidence-based framework delivered by Cycling Ireland’s High Performance coaches and performance experts from multiple disciplines. The programme, this year for riders born between 2005 and 2007, includes individual feedback and input on training programmes, physiological testing, educational workshops, consultations with experts in life skills, sports nutrition and sports psychology, in addition to training camps. The 2022 programme members began with physiology testing and injury screening in Sport Ireland Institute earlier this month.The ADP is in no way related to Irish national team selections which have their own criteria, so being selected, or not being selected for the programme will have no bearing or influence on selection for Irish teams” Here below the chosen riders >>
Adam Rafferty – Road (Ulster)
Oisin Ferrity – Road (Ulster)
Shauna Finn – Road/Track (Munster)
Áine Doherty – Road/Cyclo-cross (Ulster)
Greta Lawless – MTB (Leinster)
Seth Dunwoody – Road/Cyclo-cross (Ulster)
Patrick Casey – Road (Lives in Yorkshire GB- IRL Licence)
Liam O’Brien – Road/Cyclo-cross (Munster)
Curtis Neill – Road/Cyclo-cross/Track (Ulster)
Sam Coleman – Road/Cyclo-cross (Ulster)
