Lynch to quit Irish team in managerial stand-off

SHOWJUMPER Denis Lynch has quit the Irish team and is considering the possibility of declaring for Germany, his long-time home.

The Tipperary rider, a stalwart of the Irish Nations Cup squad for many years, has been based in Germany for 16 years and yesterday claimed irreconcilable differences with Ireland manager Robert Splaine are behind his decision to go it alone. While he is acutely aware this may be perceived as unpatriotic, he says to go on would do a disservice to himself and his country.

“I cannot give the same consideration to the team as I have previously. The team must come first, not me, an individual, and if I cannot give the same commitment, there is no point in continuing.

“I have spoken with Horse Sport Ireland and I don’t think we can achieve anything at the moment. The relationship between myself and Robert has broken down, but manager/athlete situations like these occur in all sports. I have to recognise our relationship is poor and this could definitely affect the team in the future. So I have to question my involvement,” said the 34-year-old.

Lynch said he felt particular disappointment following last year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, where he and the Irish team were tipped for a medal, but failed even to achieve qualification for the London Olympics.

“I was really disappointed with my own personal performance, but also I was disappointed with us as a team. I think a lot more could have been achieved and I put our failure down to poor tactics. It was great to win the nations cup in Aachen and as a team we had a reasonable year, but in my opinion, we failed in our one major goal: to qualify for the Olympics.”

Asked if he would consider jumping for Germany, he said: “Why not? My wife is German and I have lived and worked here for 16 years. There have been conversations with officials from the German Federation, but nothing has been decided yet,” said Lynch.

Lynch, however, stressed his number one choice would be to ride for Ireland: “I have always considered it an honour and privilege to ride for my country and I would not rule out riding for Ireland again in the future.”

His decision is a huge blow for Ireland, with the Europeans in September holding out the last hope for qualification for next year’s Olympics.

Splaine has been Ireland team manager since 2006 and his job, in essence, is to manage Ireland’s participation in the Meydan Nations Cup Series, along with selection duties for World Cup shows. Lynch’s decision comes days after Horse Sport Ireland opted not to activate a break option in Splaine’s contract, meaning he will remain in charge for a further two years, up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Yesterday, Splaine would only say: “It is not my policy to discuss team matters in the media.”

Lynch is one of the most consistent riders on the European circuit and boasts a strong string of horses. He has shown his resilience by bouncing back from the low of being eliminated from the 2008 Olympics, when his horse was one of five to fail a test for capsaicin, the first time any horse had even been tested for the substance. He claims competition earnings last year that topped €600,000 and he would be assured a warm welcome from German team coach Otto Becker if he switched allegiance.

To change nationality is a major step, notably because it brings with it a two-year moratorium on competing for the rider’s new country at European and World Championship level as well as in nations cups, while for the Olympics, at least three years must have passed since the competitor last represented his former country.

However, the FEI has said there is precedent for the waiting period to be waived.