Ian Richardson and Eoin Morton won some of the biggest races in the country during their days with UCD and rode for Ireland at home and abroad. Now other cyclists can apply for sports scholarships at University College Dublin.
UCD cycling is encouraging all upcoming young cyclists to apply to University College Dublin’s Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship.
A comprehensive battery of support is available to the academy’s elite sports scholars, including guaranteed on-campus accommodation.
Those who secure the scholarship will also receive academic mentoring, physiotherapy and medical assistance, nutritional and fitness monitoring and sports psychology.
Strength and conditioning is also part of the package; taking place in UCD’s own High-Performance Gym, under professional supervision.
Flexible admission arrangements are offered to the elite sports scholars, acknowledging that dedication to elite sport may potentially detract from academic achievement in the latter stages of schooling.
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As a result, conditional offers to successful applicants are given pending the achievement of subject and grade requirements.
The scholarship of €3,000 can be used to offset the cost of fees, accommodation or used as a bursary.
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Furthermore, if wishing to live on campus, Ad Astra Elite Scholars may avail of allocated on-campus accommodation and have their scholarship allowance applied in part payment.
UCD also have a second scholarship available, the UCD Sports Scholarship, for athletes who may not meet the Ad Astra requirements; information on the UCD Sports Scholarship is available here.
Moreover, cyclists who come to UCD can avail of the full supports that UCD Cycling offers.
This includes rider mentoring, race subsidies, vehicle support at races, support from our technical partners - Fitzcycles.ie, Spirit Skoda and Roca Sports - as well as becoming part of a young and energetic cycling community.
Ian Richardson, current vice-president of the club, said his time at UCD was instrumental for his progress in cycling.
“I really got into cycling after doing the UCD Science Day cycle to Galway, a charity event run in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital," he said.
“While taking part I met Anthony Walsh, who was studying at the time and a member of UCD Cycling. He encouraged me to join the club.
“The support from the club is immense; they helped me by providing subsidies towards race expenses and provided volunteers with team vehicles to be at races to help riders.
“I would later become captain and would return the support I was given by managing a team at the An Post Rás in 2011.
“During my time in UCD Cycling they have organised four inter-varsities and an inter-varsity league, which is where Eoin Morton had his first victories in cycling.
“Over the 25 years of the club’s history it has nurtured the talent of some of Ireland’s greatest cyclists, including Louise Moriarty, Cait Elliot, Sean McKenna, Anthony Walsh, Andrew McQuaid and Eoin Morton to name a few.
“I’m proud to have been a part of the club for tem years and will be showing my gratitude by supporting the club into the future.”
Past and current recipients of the Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship include Olympians Annalise Murphy, Arthur Lanigan-O’Keefe, Clair Lambe and the O’Donovan brothers. Closing date for applications for the Ad Astra Scholarship is the 31st January.
More information on the Ad Astra Scholarship can be found here.
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