Baskers in sport glory

Guernsey cycling has never been better and won so many plaudits, yet the Velo Club are still receiving a pittance in cash support, says its president, Gary Wallbridge, who has given his thoughts on island sport's funding shortfall in comparison to Jersey which this week announced it was spending £300,000 in travel grants, nearly five times more than Guernsey does.

During the last two Island Games – Isle of Wight 2011 and Bermuda 2013 – Guernsey have topped the cycling medal table on both occasions. Present at a number of those successes will have been some of the island's dignitaries. It is something that rankles with Wallbridge, who believes those same people then forget about sport for the intervening two years.

'When our sportspeople are winning medals for their island, they deservedly get all the media coverage and you also hear politicians saying how great it is for the island.

'It annoys me hugely because they are there taking credit when we are winning medals, but are nowhere to be seen in a sporting sense the rest of the time.'

The Guernsey Velo Club received just £1,200 of support last year and gets none this year, as opposed to the Jersey Cycling Association's new figure of £17,970, available for 2014.

Wallbridge believes that increased funding to local sport would be a win-win situation.

'I know that our cyclists fall into this category and I am sure it is the same for other sports, that those competing live healthy lives.

'Out of the whole island budget available, are they honestly trying to say that the efforts of local sportspeople - who put this island on the map in a positive way - is only worth £65,000? They are sporting heroes and are worth a lot more to Guernsey than that sum.'

C and L is expected to make a statement later today.