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Bravehearts for 2010 Announced
 
January 12, 2010; www.cyclevox.com Press Release

The Braveheart Cycling Fund which was established in 2003 to support young Scottish cyclists with racing and training costs, has selected the 13 riders and four clubs it will support in 2010, when the Commonwealth Games will be staged in Delhi. Several Games prospects are amomg those who will be backed by the Fund, with Kate Cullen and James McCallum, both bronze medallists in Melbourne four years ago, as well as Evan Oliphant and Claire Thomas, supported in their bid for medals in Delhi.

Right: James McCallum with his medal from the Commonwealth Games next to the winner, Mark Cavendish.

The biggest share of the funding, which across all categories totals more than £30,000, will be allocated to nine younger prospects, from 16-year old track sprinter John Paul to 21-year old road rider Ross Creber. And, under the ‘special projects’ category of funding, £5,000 is being invested in four junior clubs: Dynamo Falkirk, Discovery Juniors, Wallace Warriors and Peebles Cycling Club. A further £8,000 will be invested in a junior road racing initiative designed to give junior riders international experience, to be run in conjunction with Scottish Cycling under the supervision and guidance of national coach Graeme Herd.
 
Brian Smith, who set up the Braveheart Cycling Fund, said: “A committee of volunteers works the fund, but the people in control of how the money is spent are those who put their hands in their pockets by donating so generously at our annual dinner and throughout the year. One of the questions we’ve been increasingly asked is whether the fund is just for elite riders, or is there money available for development."

Right: Kate Cullen, Games Medallist along with two Aussies.
 
"We want to support development, and the special projects is an area we want to develop. It's a direction we’re keen to head in. Some of the junior clubs in Scotland are doing a fantastic job getting youngsters involved and we really want to support that. With the Discovery Juniors in Dundee there is also a project to upgrade the Caird Park track, where they train. We hope that by helping the club we can help the initiative to keep the facility."
 
The sport relies on volunteers and we want the fund to support them while also continuing to help promising riders in the 16-21 age category, because that’s when they’re most vulnerable and most likely to drift away from the sport. There are some exciting prospects among those we’ll fund this year. Kenta Gallagher is a big talent; Alexander King, who was 11th in Junior Paris-Roubaix last year, is another; and Eileen Roe and Charline Joiner are both making good progress.”
 
Smith also revealed that Kevin Stewart, crowned 2009 Braveheart Cyclist of the Year at the annual dinner in October, is to travel to the headquarters of the International Cycling Union (UCI) in Aigle, Switzerland, to take part in trials for a place at the World Cycling School. Ross Edgar and Victoria Pendleton are among the sprinters who have graduated from the school and gone on to success at world and Olympic level.
 
Funding in full:

Braveheart funding is allocated under four categories:
1.    Development of Potential World/Olympic Champions – Preference given to U23’s
2.    Youth Cycling Clubs who actively promote and develop competitive cycling.
3.    Commonwealth Games Medal Prospects. Games Year only.
4.    Special Projects – Relating directly to Scottish competitive cycle sport

Under Category 1 we have allocated a total of £13,500 to the following cyclists;

John Paul – Track Sprint
Kevin Stewart – Track Sprint
Callum Skinner – Track Sprint
Ross Creber - Road
Kenta Gallagher - MTB
Sebastian Batchelor - MTB
Alexander King – Road
Eileen Roe – Road/Track
Charline Joiner - Track

Under Category 2 we have allocated £5,000 to the following clubs;

Dynamo Falkirk
Discovery Juniors
Wallace Warriors
Peebles CC

Under Category 3 we have allocated £3,750 to the following cyclists;

Evan Oliphant
James McCallum
Kate Cullen
Claire Thomas

Under Category 4 we have allocated £8,000 to the following project:
Under the guidance and supervision of Graeme Herd and Scottish Cycling, the most promising junior road cyclists will be taken to a number of events to help them develop their road racing skills. These events will include an international event as well as the British Junior Road Race series.

Link: Braveheart Fund