The ambition of Julian Winn of Wales to defend his FBD Milk Ras title was dashed yesterday with the announcement that teams from England, Scotland, Wales and the Netherlands would be unable to compete this year.

The difficult decision to exclude 11 five man teams, thus reducing the international contingent by more than 50 per cent, was forced on race organiser Dermot Dignam by the foot-and-mouth crises in those four countries.

The news is a considerable blow to the eight-day event, which this year had been awarded world-ranking points for the first time in its 49-year history and consequently attracted much attention from teams abroad.

But, considering guidelines from the Department of Agriculture and the farming related nature of sponsors FBD Insurances and the National Dairy Council, the decision was all but inevitable.

"It is difficult to have to exclude 55 riders from the race," Dignam said in a statement. "But we are proud of the part the FBD Milk Ras has played in Ireland's sporting and economic life for the past 48 years, and, while disappointed and sorry for the British and Dutch cyclists, we have no hesitation in taking the steps we feel necessary in the war against this devastating disease. The race sponsors are 100 per cent behind us in this move."

A field of 200 riders had been expected to take part. But while a quarter of those entered for the May 20th start have been removed by yesterday's decision, the lure of world ranking points will make Dignam's task easier as he seeks replacements.

Indeed three foreign squads, including a team from Germany and Belgium, have expressed their interest, and others are likely to follow. A number of trade teams are also expected to take part. Competitors from Britain have long been an integral part of the race, and last year Winn and the Pro Vision trio of Wayne Randle, Mark Lovatt and John Tanner were the principal animators of the event. They will be missed this May.