Athletics Ireland Launch 2006 Performance Plan, Panels & Carding Awards. A new era for Irish Athletics is fully reflected in an exciting new Athletics Ireland Performance Plan. New initiatives have been introduced as well as new criteria for qualification for the programme. The most significant change in the programme is the expansion of the programme from a senior level programme to a fully comprehensive programme including youth and junior. The qualifying criteria for inclusion in the senior programme are higher than in the past. The expansion of the Senior Programme to include a Development category is to cater for the late development of Irish Athletes, and the trend of European finalists and medallists peaking later in their careers. Younger athletes must show a series of key benchmarks each year from U16 through to U26 to remain on the programme. The Irish Sports Council carding scheme for junior athletes has broadened to provide individualised support to outstanding younger athletes, as young as U16, whilst the performance programme has a full junior and youth programme with published qualifying standards. The goal is to give our talented youngsters the best chance possible to progress to International level. The overall goal of the programme follows the Irish Sports Council policy of producing qualifiers, finalists and medallists at World Championships and or Olympic Games. The new criteria reflect this. Athletes who achieved the new carding / performance criteria were presented to the ISC for verification. A number of special cases were also presented by the Association by virtue of exceptional circumstance and special case such as a prolonged injury or other medical situation or outstanding talent. The Association adjudicated on the borderline athletes and some difficult decisions were made. "These are exciting times for our sport. There is now a clear and progressive High Performance structure in place. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the programme in partnership with the Irish Sports Council. We must now effect an immediate implementation programme for the plan" said Liam Hennessy Chairman of the new High Performance Committee. Athletes on the programme can expect to enjoy carding support, a range of coaching camps which will be led by the national coaches, a full competition programme to assist in preparation for major competition, access to a fully integrated sports science and medical programme, and top level international coaching. This is the start of an exciting time for athletics; new programmes, increased support, new structure and all building positively towards Beijing and beyond. The following athletes have been named on the AAI performance Panels and on the Carding Scheme International Carding Scheme <

International Carding Scheme

AAI Performance Panels

World Class	World Class
Alistair Cragg	Alistair Cragg
Gillian O’Sullivan   (2 athletes)	Gillian O’Sullivan

International	International
Olive Loughnane	Olive Loughnane
David Gillick	David Gillick
Roisin McGettigan	Roisin McGettigan
Derval O’Rourke	Derval O’Rourke
Robert Heffernan	Robert Heffernan
Eileen O’Keeffe	Eileen O’Keeffe
Adrian O’Dwyer	Adrian O’Dwyer
Marie Davenport	Marie Davenport
Jamie Costin    (9 athletes)	Jamie Costin

Development Carding	Development Performance
Colin Costello	Colin Costello
Danny Darcy	Danny Darcy
Ann Loughnane	Ann Loughnane
Linda Byrne	Linda Byrne
Mark Christie	Mark Christie
Joe Sweeney	Joe Sweeney
Joanne Cuddihy	Joanne Cuddihy
Thomas Chamney	Thomas Chamney
Fionnuala Britton	Fionnuala Britton
Ciaran O’Connell	Ciaran O’Connell
Ailis McSweeney	Ailis McSweeney
Anna Boyle	Anna Boyle
Martin Fagan	Martin Fagan
Paul Hession	Paul Hession
Deirdre Ryan	Deirdre Ryan
Mary Cullen	Mary Cullen
Jolene Byrne	Jolene Byrne
Gary Murray	Gary Murray
David McCarthy    (19 athletes)	David McCarthy
	Andrew Ledwith    (20 athletes)

Junior Carding	Junior Performance
Catriona Cuddihy	Catriona Cuddihy
Eoin Everard	Eoin Everard
Breifni Twohig	Breifni Twohig
Louise Kiernan	Louise Kiernan
Laura Reynolds	Laura Reynolds
Roseanne Galligan	Roseanne Galligan
David McCarthy	David McCarthy
Ciaran O’Lionaird	Ciaran O’Lionaird
Kelly Proper	Kelly Proper
Eoin Healy	Eoin Healy
Amy Foster	Amy Foster
Pamela Hughes	Brendan O’Neill
Kalyn Sheehan	Paul Pollock
Gerard O’Reilly	Laura Crowe
Mairead Murphy	Jason Smyth
Niamh Whelan	Richie Yeates    (16 athletes)
Harriet Crosse
Ciara Cronin
Azmera Gebrezgi	Youth Achievers
Brendan O’Neill    (20 athletes)	Pamela Hughes
	Kalyn Sheehan
	Gerard O’Reilly
	Mairead Murphy
	Niamh Whelan
	Harriet Crosse
	Ciara Cronin
	Claire Rockall
	Mary O’Connor
	Sara Treacy
	Suzanne Huet
	Niamh Ryan
	Imelda Morrisson
	Laura Cogan
	Katie O’Shea
	Conor Murphy
	Chris Quinn   (17 athletes)