World champion race walker Robert Heffernan leads a list of 11 athletes who are to receive cash grants under the Irish Sports Council carding scheme.
Heffernan gets the top grant of €40,000, along with Paralympians Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and Orla Barry. Fionnuala Britton, who finished fourth at the European Cross-Country having won the title for the two previous years, gets €20,000, while the remaining nine, including hurdler Derval O’Rourke, get €12,000; they are considered capable of winning medals in the future.
Carded athletes have access to sports science and medical assistance, as well as travel grants and support for personal coaches. The nine athletes were selected by Kevin Ankrom, Chris Jones and Jacqui Freyne from Athletics Ireland.
* Triathlete Aileen Reid is another on the top level of funding, while modern pentathlete Natalya Coyle gets €20,000.
Athletes –
Podium (€40,000) – Robert Heffernan.
World class (€20,000) – Fionnuala Britton
International (€12,000)- Ciaran O Lionaird, Derval O’Rourke, Jessie Barr, Brian Gregan, Laura Reynolds, Brendan Boyce, Mark English, Paul Robinson, Rose-Anne Galligan.
Paralympians –
Podium (€40,000) – Michael McKillop, Jason Smyth, Orla Barry
International (€12,000) – Catherine O’Neill, Heather Jameson, Deirdre Mongon, Nadine Lattimore, John McCarthy.
Triathletes –
Podium (€40,000) – Aileen Reid
International (€12,000) – Bryan Keane, Ben Shaw.
Modern pentathletes –
World class (€20,000) – Natalya Coyle
International (€12,000) – Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe
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