Cyclists on track for success with Lottery cash

Saturday 16 December 2000

sportscotland is supporting the next generation of successful cyclists in the latest round of Talented Athlete Programme (TAP) awards totalling over £170,000.

With the profile of cycling on an all time high after the Olympics, awards from sportscotland's Lottery Fund totalling over almost £40,000 are being made by sportscotland to the disciplines of mountain biking, track and road cycling.

On the mountains, Talented Athlete awards are helping to support established cyclists such as Crawford Carrick-Anderson who, like his younger sister Emma, was once a member of the British Alpine Ski team at Junior and Senior level.  A sporting all-rounder, he has also represented Scotland at national level in swimming and trail biking, and has now turned his talents to achieving results in downhill mountain biking with 4 top 20 finishes achieved at World Cup events this year.

Hot on his mud-guard is up and coming youngster, 18 year old Stuart Thomson.  A newcomer to the sport, he has already demonstrated his potential, by coming 11th in the Junior Worlds in Sierra Nevada this year.  Previously Stuart benefited from support through sportscotland's Junior Groups Programme before graduating to TAP.

On the road, members of the Scottish Road Racing team, which has already had a series of top 10 finishes in premier calendar events this year and two team victories, also received support, which, it is hoped, will help to move the riders closer to selection for the British Cycling Federation's World Class Performance Programme.

Ian Robson, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: "Our top athletes not only help to build Scotland's reputation as a successful sporting nation, they also act as role models that demonstrate to us all the value of taking part in sport.

"Helping talented athletes cover the cost of participating at elite level is one way in which we can help make sure that Scottish athletes of the future continue to produce inspiring world class performances."

Other sports benefiting from support this month include shooting, triathlon and archery.

Through the Talented Athlete Programme, sportscotland makes awards to Scottish athletes who are performing at the top of their sport or who are showing real promise. The money covers expenses such as equipment, training, travel to competition, coaching, sports medicine and sports science.

In some cases, living costs are met, which can include time taken off work in order to train full time and concentrate on preparing for competitions.

• A list of this month's Talented Athlete Programme awards follows below.

TALENTED ATHLETE PROGRAMME

DECEMBER 2000

48 awards totalling £173,804

Archery

3 awards totalling £8,685

Cycling

12 awards totalling £39,580

Shooting

17 awards totalling £67,984

Triathlon

13 awards totalling £39,565