Jamie Popham retires from International Downhill MTB Racing

January 06

Jamie Popham has announced his retirement from International Downhill Mountain Bike racing.

Jamie has been racing mountain bikes for twelve years, riding professionally for the last three years. His versatility as a cyclist has seen him compete in Down Hill, Cross Country, 4 Cross, BMX, Road and Track. He has raced in Europe, America , Canada , Singapore , Britain and Ireland .

He has represented Ireland at four World Championships and two European Championships. He has won nine Irish National titles in both Cross Country and Downhill. In 2003 he became the first Irish rider to ever win a British Downhill National Points Series Title and also became the highest ranked junior in the World.

The decision by the Irish Sports Council to exclude non Olympic athletes from the International Carding Scheme for 2006 plus the reduced funding available for International competition , added to a lack of a sponsorship deal has the made the prospect of competing in the World Cup Series in 2006 financially unsustainable.

This decision by the Sports Council will continue to impact on all non Olympic sports in Ireland.

An ankle injury he sustained in 2004 has continued to cause him problems, particularly on rough tracks such as Fort William .

The failure of the U.C.I to outsource the management of the World Cup Series along with the general lack of sponsorship for downhill will make 2006 a difficult year for all riders.

Jamie would like to thank all those individuals in the mountain bike community who have supported him over the years in a very tough and difficult sport, and wish all those continued success in 2006.

He would also like to thank all his sponsors, Dickon from Santa Cruz UK , The Eircom dealer channel / Phone Pulse Ltd, Oakley, Fiat Ireland , Mojo, E13, Dakine, Toni and Guy Blackrock, Hope and Cycling Ireland.

Finally, he would like to thank his coach, Michelle Crinnon and his father whose support has been fantastic over the years.