Girls' ski dreams are an uphill battle
Young skiers Claire and Isabel O'Leary from Churchtown.
Thursday February 04 2010
A COMPETITIVE schoolgirl has to travel alone to an international skiiing championship in Italy because her parents can not afford to accompany her.
Claire O'Leary, 13, from Churchtown in North Cork will be the only Irish competitor in her category at the British Alpine Championships at Bormio, Italy, beginning on February 14.
Her parents, Andreas and Christine, have forked out €2,000 for her trip but cannot afford to travel with her. Claire will fly alone from Cork to Geneva, where she will be met by a trainer from the British children's ski team who will escort her to the British Ski Academy in Les Houches, France.
After training with members of the British ski team Claire will travel with them to Bormio for the championships.
However, Claire is confident that she can manage the trip on her own. "I am fine about it, I am used to handling things on my own," ," said Claire, adding. "I am a bit nervous about the race, though."
Claire is aiming to qualify for the Junior Winter Olympics in 2012. Already, two ski academies have shown an interest in giving her a scholarship that would cover costs for five years.
Since the O'Leary family moved back to Ireland in 2007, from the continent, both Claire and her sister, Isabel, have not given up their love of skiing. The girls joined the Ski Club of Ireland and the rest is history.
Claire and Isabel have competed at the British Grand Prix series, the European Indoor Championships, the Welsh Open Championships and the Irish Open Championships.
Andreas travels with the girls five times a year to ski slopes so that they can practice — but the trips cost at least €16,000 a year.
"All our savings are gone, we do not even go out, everything is for the girls," said Christine. "Because we have a mortgage to pay we can't continue to spend €16,000 a year.
"We are hoping to hold a variety of fundraising events — the people of Churchtown have already raised 1,000. What we need now is a sponsor to help two young girls who want to ski for Ireland," added Christine.
- LOUISE MCCARTHY LMCCARTHY@CORKMAN.IE
