WORLD JUNIOR PAIRS AXED - posted 28 January 2009

The World Nations Junior Best Pairs has been cancelled after there were not enough entries to make up a field.  ICSF secretary Dave Murphy confirmed the news earlier today and also explained the reason for not having a women's world championship.

"The Junior Nations World Pairs cannot go ahead as there are not enough nations providing two junior riders" Murphy told spokesman-online.  "Only England and Australia have guaranteed to have two junior riders - not enough to hold a pairs championship.  The USA have only one junior travelling.  Poland named two juniors, but only one is confirmed as travelling.  Wales have only one junior confirmed although a second potential junior has been identified but would struggle against the World's best 17 and 18 year-olds.  Ireland and Scotland have not entered junior riders.

"The other event causing controversy is the women's event.  Again to clarify, the ICSF has never been asked to sanction a women's world championship, although I will table this as an agenda item for next ICSF meeting in Adelaide, with the possibility of introducing it at future championships.

"Mick Harley has responded to a request from Jessica Lamb to stage such an event during the 2009 tour and I fully endorsed this idea.  There would have been no women's racing on the official calendar without Mick's efforts to include this event" said Murphy.