Owens back in the saddle

CYCLING: Against all expectations, Irish champion Tarja Owens is to line out in the world cross-country championships this Sunday.

The Olympic hopeful cracked her collarbone 12 days ago when she fell during the European mountainbike championships but following medical advice, she has travelled to Lugano, Switzerland, where she is hoping to pick up more world ranking points.

Owens had looked in line to reach the qualification standard for Athens 2004 prior to sustaining the injury. The fear was she would be out for four to five weeks, missing out on the events with the highest points on offer.

Inspired perhaps by Tyler Hamilton's feat with a similar injury in this year's Tour de France, the Delgany rider has decided to start on Sunday and is hoping to be able to record a good performance.

Also chasing points towards Olympic qualification will be Jenny McCauley and Robin Seymour, who currently is well inside the world's top 50 and on course to earn a place for Ireland in Athens.

Under-23 rider Glen Kinning and junior Lewis Ferguson have also entered cross-country events, while eight riders will contest the downhill championships. Jamie Popham finished an excellent fifth in the European Championships and together with Ben Reid and Andy Smith, will ride the junior race.

The senior team comprises national champion Colin Ross, Glyn O'Brien, John Lawlor, Andrew Yoong and Will Corry.

Meanwhile there was success for Irish riders in the recent world masters championships, held in St Johann, Austria. Cormac McCann was fifth in the 65-69 age group road race, while Lennie Kirk placed 17th in the 40-44 age group.

Another group of Irish cyclists are hoping to perform well in the track equivalent, which starts this Sunday and runs for a week.

The prospects for the Irish track scene were boosted recently when the Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue announced additional funding of €170,000 would be made available. This sum will increase the size of the National Cycling School at the Eamon Ceannt Stadium, Kimmage, and also pay for a rental fleet of track bikes.

Resurfacing of the track is expected to be completed this autumn with the cycling school due to be finished by next May.