After an injury-enforced lay-off Cian O’Connor is set for a return to jumping action this coming weekend in Germany. The Meath rider heads for Wiesbaden’s four-star meeting with his top horse Good Luck, along with Copain du Perchet and his newly-acquired Cybell.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine underwent surgery for a broken wrist this week, but Taylor Vard, his stand in for tomorrow’s Furusiyya Series nations cup in Ocala, Florida, is upbeat about sending him a nice get-well present.

The board of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) yesterday ratified Professor Patrick Wall as its new chairman.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine and his high-performance committee have compiled selection criteria to determine who will represent Ireland at the Olympics, following a request from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Billy Twomey is confident that he and Denis Lynch have won two individual spots for Ireland in the Olympics, saying that, with almost three weeks to go to the March 1 cut-off date, they cannot be caught by Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya.

IRELAND will contest this year’s Meydan Nations Cup Series, despite a 60% cut in funding by its affiliate, ShowjumpingIreland, coupled with a reduction in the Irish Sports Council contribution to high performance.

SENIOR rider Michael Ryan says Eventing Ireland must have good cause if it chooses to redirect the money it annually allocates for high performance.

PLANNING for the nations cup season moves into focus next Tuesday, when riders gather with management at Dublin airport to plan the season ahead.

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.

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.

A FULL-TIME chef d’équipe for the senior Irish show jumping team is expected to be appointed this month.

JESSICA KÜRTEN is to test the goodwill of the Irish show jumping selectors with a request for slots in forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

HARRY MARSHALL has put his grievances with the Irish show jumping selectors aside temporarily and declared himself available for the Samsung Nations Cup Super League final in Barcelona in two weeks.

IN the gloom that has surrounded show jumping, there appeared a chink of light this week. Only time will tell if things get any brighter.

EFFORTS to resolve the row that has beset Irish showjumping failed yesterday, with Jessica Kuerten and Harry Marshall declaring themselves unavailable for international team selection.

John Tynan, Equestrian Correspondent

John Tynan

John Tynan

Irish showjumping could become ungovernable if riders refuse to saddle up for their country because of team disputes, equestrian chiefs warned today.

TURMOIL and recrimination surfaced within the Irish show jumping camp again yesterday, with Harry Marshall the latest rider to pull out of the senior nations cup squad.

SHOW JUMPER Jessica Kürten will not line out alongside Cian O’Connor and the rest of the Irish team in next week’s Dublin Horse Show.

THE international show jumping selectors grasped the nettle this week and teamed Jessica Kürten with Cian O’Connor for the nations cup at next month’s Dublin Horse Show.

THE possibility of a conflict in the Irish show jumping camp re-emerged yesterday with the selection of former Olympic champion Cian O’Connor and Jessica Kürten on the same team.

DUBLINER Michael Stone yesterday said he hopes to replace Bo Helander as head of the Federation Internationale Equestre (FEI).

HARRY MARSHALL yesterday said his forthcoming disciplinary hearing will not prove a distraction as he lines out in today’s Samsung Super League opener in La Baule, France.

THE vow by a number of riders to never join Cian O’Connor on a nations cup team demonstrates the depth of acrimony felt towards the rider in some quarters.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) yesterday transferred international team selection back to the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI).

IT is understood that Eddie Macken was appointed the chef d’equipe of the Irish show jumping team last night.

THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) plans to set up a stewarding system at shows to “deter any misdemeanours which may cast a slur upon the sport”.

SHOW Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) Chairman Charles Hanley has denied that a purge is taking place in the association, following a number of surprise resignations.

A NOTE of disharmony emerged this week in the Olympic show jumping camp, with some of the long-list of riders ensuring Eddie Macken was installed as team trainer in place of original choice Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Mullins.