Jersey’s top sports men and women took a step closer to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games as funding plans for the Acorn Performance Pathway were presented to their sporting bodies.
For 2019 the CGAJ has funds from its main sponsor, Acorn Finance, that are earmarked for long-term athlete development. The aim is to support athletes as they strive to achieve selection for Games.
Commenting upon key learnings from the 2018 Gold Coast Games, CGAJ President Paul du Feu stated: “Results from previous Games clearly show that the athletes with the best competition programmes during the qualifying period out-performed those who had a weaker program of competition.
“The Games are just over three years away. Athletes aiming for selection must be competing regularly and achieving consistently high results in high quality events over the qualifying period. All funding will be dependent on these results.”
The first round of Acorn funding awards will be made to registered Pathway athletes in July based upon results achieved in the period from May 2018 to June 2019. Athletes can register for the Pathway at any time up to the end of this year, with the support of their sporting body.
There will be FOUR levels of funding;
“GOLD” funding will be awarded to athletes whose results match the top 25% of a typical Games field in their event. Jersey would normally have two or three competitors at this very challenging level.
“SUCCESS” funding will be awarded to those who are performing in the top 50% of their field whilst “PARTICIPATION” support will go to quality athletes who are likely to achieve the minimum standards set out in their sport’s Selection Criteria.
“PARTICIPATION” support will go to quality athletes who are likely to achieve the minimum standards set out in their sport’s Selection Criteria.
The CGAJ will also be seeking out younger “DEVELOPING” athletes who warrant some assistance.
CGAJ Secretary General Paul Huddlestone said: “We’ve now got representatives in place for half our sports. These volunteers are doing all the work getting information to and from the clubs and athletes. There is a lot to do and they will work with us to give our athletes every chance of being included in the plans. Without these hard-working individuals, we and the sports will struggle.”
Talking about the selection process he added: “Our Validation Group coordinate the Team Development Process which they review each new Games cycle. They have set firm dates for all the Selection Criteria to be agreed for all sports by the end of this year. Each Games cycle we seek to improve on the last Games, looking at worked and what didn’t. These and other changes we are making are designed to give our athletes the best chance of success.”
All papers are available below –