Madam, – My daughter, Astrid Loch-Wilkinson, is the pilot of the Australian Women’s Bobsleigh team in Vancouver.
The appeal to the International Olympic Committee for her inclusion in the Winter Olympics saw your Irish team, led by Aoife Hoey, drawn into the dispute.
We were all aghast when we heard of this risk to Ireland competing. The affair resulted from a legal confection in submissions to the Court for Arbitration in Sport. Our daughter and Cecilia McIntosh, her brake woman, never sought to try to displace the Irish team; rather they sought the addition of a 21st sled in keeping with the criteria for selection to compete.
The affair has soured what has been a most harmonious relationship between our two nations.
For the record, Astrid has some Irish blood via my side (Donegal and Connemara, albeit via Birmingham thanks to the potato Famine). We wish Aoife and Clare Bergin every success in their historic appearance in Vancouver.
God speed girls and fast sliding. – Yours, etc,