NEIL GOUGH, the reigning national welter champion, has reacted to his omission from the recently-distributed High Performance grants from the State.
In a letter read at Saturday's IABA Standing Committee, Gough - he has boxed 50 times for Ireland and won his fifth national title a few weeks ago - expressed huge surprise at being overlooked for a grant.
The IABA admits that its boxers have not been treated so well with previous grants. It is to recommend to the Irish Sports Council that Gough's position should be looked at again. The boxer intends to keep training for major events, including the Sydney Olympics.
The St Paul's of Waterford boxer has suggested he finds it difficult that a number three-seeded boxer, Francis Barrett, a beaten welter semi-finalist in this year's national championships, has been given a £10,000 grant while he has received nothing.
The feeling at the meeting was that the IABA should be given a block grant for the association to distribute. However, said Ulster president Pat McCrory: "If the OCI cannot get the money for distribution, we are hardly likely to be acknowledged in this respect.
He feared that Ulster boxers who benefited from the scheme could have their Ulster Sports Council grants reduced accordingly.
A seven-man team was named for the inaugural European Cadet Championships (formerly youths) in Macedonia in July. It does not include the talented Star BC boxer Ger McAuley (he is named among three boxers for a possible tournament in Sweden).
The team is: 45kg: G Brown (Crumlin); 48Kg: A Lawlor (St Jude's); 51kg: P J Hamill (All Saints); 54kg: S Twohig (Sunnyside); 60kg: C Smithers (Bunclody); 67kg: P McDermott (St Agnes'); 75kg: G Sheahan (St Michael's).
An international match against Canada in Dublin has been arranged for September 26th, with the possibility of a second match being staged in one of the provinces.
