CYCLING Cycling Ireland aims high with appointment of Philip Leigh as new High Performance Director

Cycling Ireland has set its course for success at the London 2012 Olympics with the announcement that Philip Leigh is to take up the position as its new High Performance Director.

The appointment of the accomplished professional team manager and former Great Britain team member also represents Cycling Ireland's commitment to preparing elite athletes for success at World and European level.

Philip, who is a native of Lancashire in the U.K., has previously worked with some of most talented riders in the U.K. including World Champion Chris Newton who was also a medallist at the Beijing (2008) and Athens (2004) Olympic Games.

He will be responsible for developing and managing Cycling Ireland's High Performance Plan, for managing high performance staff and for overseeing all activities in preparation for respective World Cup, World Championship and Olympic track, road and MTB events.

"We are delighted to appoint Philip as Cycling Ireland's High Performance Director. He is considerably experienced in identifying new cycling talent and in putting organisational and support structures in place to ensure that elite athletes achieve success," said Cycling Ireland Executive Officer, Geoff Liffey.

"Philip will develop a system which allows Cycling Ireland's elite athletes to come in and out of the High Performance squad. Our goal is to increase the size of the cycling team competing at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to focus specifically on achieving success on the track," he added.

"Cycling Ireland and The Irish Sports Council have set the goal of having at least one cyclist finish in the top ten in a cycling event at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Irish Sports Council is hugely supportive of our High Performance Programme and we are committed to working together to achieve our objectives," Liffey continued.

Philip Leigh said that he was looking forward to taking up the post in early April and to working with Cycling Ireland. "I am very familiar with Irish cycling and I am greatly excited by the challenge that exists. There is huge talent among the new generation of Irish cyclists and I have a clear vision of what needs to be done to develop their potential and to support their ambition," he said.

"We are certainly capable of bringing bigger teams to the London 2012 Olympics. Our indoor track riders are also capable of delivering at least personal best times and of qualifying to compete for medals and the talent is there to have riders finish inside the top ten in the road and MTB disciplines," he added.

Philip said that one of his first goals in taking up his new Dublin based position will be to put new structures into place to develop high performance coaches and to support elite athletes up to and beyond the 2012 Olympic Games. He also intends to assess and refine Cycling Ireland's Talent Identification and Talent Transfer programmes.

His appointment has also been welcomed by the Irish Sports Council. "Cycling is a key high performance sport and has the potential to bring success to Ireland, especially with the track programme. The Irish Sports Council welcomes the appointment of Philip Leigh to Cycling Ireland. The Performance Director is the key role in building a sustainable performance system within a sport and ensuring the athletes fulfil their potential at international level," said John Treacy, CEO, Irish Sports Council.

For further information and interviews contact:

Ian McClure - Hartnett McClure PR
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(E) ian@hmpr.ie