Madam, - Contrary to several reports that have appeared, one of them in your newspaper, I would like to point out that all the equestrian athletes who represented Ireland in the Athens Olympics benefited individually from Irish Sports Council High Performance Funding, provided through the Equestrian Federation of Ireland.
The 2004 High Performance Grant was approximately €350,000. Of that total, €120,000 was allocated as direct investment in show jumping, eventing, and dressage riders, while the balance was distributed between training camps programmes, coaching and management support, sport science and medical support, and equipment. Therefore it is untrue to say that riders did not receive individual funding.
We are very grateful to the Irish Sports Council for their faith that equestrianism would deliver a medal in Athens, and we were, in the end, happy to oblige. - Yours, etc.,
AVRIL DOYLE, President, Equestrian Federation of Ireland, Kildare Paddocks, Kill, Co Kildare.