THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) has appointed a director general almost a year after it dispensed with the previous incumbent.

JOHN O'DONOGHUE, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism yesterday announced the establishment of a new Agency - Horse Sport Ireland - which will be responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry (breeding, sport and leisure sides).

THE announcement on Wednesday of the setting up of the new umbrella body for equestrianism, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), received broad welcome.

A NEW umbrella body for equestrian sport, Horse Sport Ireland, is set to be chaired by former Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh.

“IT was a close one!”

THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) has not adapted quickly enough to meet the changing needs of the sport, but is working to address this, its chairperson, Patricia Furlong, said yesterday.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) is to submit the nominations of its affiliates for the interim board of Horse Sport Ireland to Arts Sports and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue on Monday.

GREEN GLENS owner Noel C Duggan, the organiser of what is arguably Ireland’s biggest show jumping event, yesterday confirmed that he is to run independently of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI).

SHOW jumping received a boost yesterday with the news that the national championships are to be revived following a nine-year break.

THE chairwoman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), Patricia Furlong, yesterday welcomed the latest moves at the formation of an umbrella body for equestrianism.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) executive has been issued with draft proposals on the setting up of an umbrella body for the equine industry as the initiative gains momentum.

AN air of expectation more so than optimism permeated the select group at the Equestrian Federation of Ireland’s (EFI) presentation of its jumping committee last Monday.

ROBERT SPLAINE was yesterday officially installed as the manager to the Irish showjumping team and he said his priorities were to stay in the Samsung Nations Cup Super League and to finish in the top five of September’s World Equestrian games, thus qualifying for the Bejing Olympics.

THE new management team for Irish international show jumping will be officially unveiled on Monday, according to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI).

MICHAEL DOWLING, chairman of the implementation group charged with setting up the umbrella body for equestrianism, yesterday said the ending of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland’s international status should not affect its role in the umbrella organisation.

SHOW Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) chairperson Patricia Furlong yesterday described the association’s decision to relinquish control of all international teams to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) as a positive development for the sport at grassroots level.

THE plans of Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) secretary general Dan Butler for Irish international participation this year are coming to fruition.

SHOW JUMPER Denis Lynch is experiencing mixed emotions.

BRITISH show jumping legend Malcolm Pyrah is one of five candidates in the frame to become the next Irish show jumping team manager.

EVENTING followers will be disappointed to hear that Blarney Castle International Three-day Event will not be run this year. The event was scheduled to return to the eventing calendar in 2006, having not run since 2001.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) has received more than one application for the post of team manager to the Irish international show jumping team

COMMANDANT John Ledingham will not be applying for the newly-advertised position of team manager to the Irish international show jumping team.

SHOW JUMPER Jessica Kürten notched up a hat-trick of wins at Leipzig over the weekend, but failed to make a major impression in yesterday’s World Cup Qualifier.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland has taken over international team selection duties from the Show Jumping Association of Ireland.

THE new chairperson of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland, Patricia Furlong is confident the legal advice she received concerning the validity of last month’s Leinster Region election is above reproach.

NEW SJAI chairperson Patricia Furlong and acting SJAI director general Liz Pottie will today discuss a road plan for show jumping when they meet Irish Sports Council chief executive John Treacy.

KEVIN BABINGTON says he would welcome the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) taking over selection of the senior show jumping team from the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI).

JESSICA KÜRTEN’S World Cup ambitions have taken a setback following a fall prior to Christmas.

TAYLOR VARD has spurned a bid by the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) to have him withdraw his resignation as chairman of the senior selectors.

A MEETING between Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) chairman Charles Hanley and Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) president Charles Powell aimed at smoothing relations between the two bodies failed to materialise yesterday, following the leaking this week of a letter written by the SJAI interim chief executive Liz Pottie.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) could impose further sanctions on the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) if it refuses to agree to the demands of a document presented to the SJAI last Friday.

THE chairman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), Charles Hanley, said yesterday the terms of a contract had been “agreed” with chef d’equipe designate Robert Splaine.

THE chairman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) hopes this week to convince the chairman of the Irish team selectors committee to withdraw his resignation threat.

THE chairman of the selectors for the senior international show jumping team has resigned.

THE formal ratification of Robert Splaine as chef d’equipe to the senior show jumping team may not take place until January, as the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) has not scheduled an executive meeting until the New Year.

JOHN LEDINGHAM and Robert Splaine are, as expected, the two front-runners for the post of Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Show jumping team following a meeting of riders and management in Dublin yesterday.

ONE of the riders central to this year’s show jumping dispute over selection for Nations Cup teams is unable to attend a meeting set to kick-start a review of the contentious process.

THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) will take the first step in the review of the selection process for senior nations cup teams by holding a meeting on October 10.

THE chairman of the implementation group charged with setting up an umbrella body for equestrianism hopes to complete the group’s task by Christmas.

CIAN O'CONNOR offered to withdraw his name for selection for the last two Samsung Super League Nations Cup competitions this year in a bid to restore some harmony to Irish showjumping.

John Tynan

INTERNATIONAL show jumper Robert Splaine yesterday said the drug testing procedure at Irish shows needs a serious review, following his experiences at Ennis last month.

IRELAND’S showjumpers climbed out of the relegation zone in the Samsung Super League yesterday, when placed fourth in the Nations Cup at Rotterdam.