Appointing a director general is good news ... so let’s keep it quiet

IT may have taken almost a year, but the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) has got its man.

Patrick Cully was unveiled by the association as its new director general late last Thursday afternoon. Curiously, he was only partially unveiled, the SJAI opting to keep him, in the main, cloaked, giving only his name and no details ... whatsoever.

The association’s explanation was that they wanted the press to contact them to ensure a level of control.

It is understandable that they would want only a favourable reaction to the appointment, particularly in light of the controversy that surrounded the SJAI’s decision to dispense with the services of the previous incumbent, Robert Joyce, last December.

Also, a number of months ago, the SJAI’s efforts to source a DG made the news, when, embarrassingly, after an individual was identified, contract negotiations did not yield the desired result.

However, last week’s tactic of announcing the new man with no fanfare was to an extent counter-productive. It lended it an air of intrigue, but it also gave the impression that the SJAI had no reason to shout about his anointment as the man expected to guide the association into a new era.

Aside from that, however, the appointment of a director general is good news. What organisation does not need a chief if it is to function adequately? Thus, it is hoped that Mr Cully and the SJAI can go forward and achieve the potential that is universally believed exists for the sport.

Crucial in achieving this, is that he be provided with a comprehensive strategic plan and the full support of the executive.

Mr Cully, 42, who takes up his position on January 2, is from Coonough, Carbury, Co Kildare. In becoming the latest SJAI director general, he will be relinquishing his post as maintenance director with Hewlett-Packard, for whom he has worked for 11 years.

He was selected following a process that involved former Irish Sports Council chairman Pat O’Neill and a human resources company in Kildare.

According to the SJAI, he has signed a full-time, open-ended contract.

Mr Cully, who is married with two sons, brings with him a lifetime’s experience of involvement with horses, according to the SJAI. From a farming background, where equines played a big part, he went on to saddle six point-to-point winners as an amateur licence holder. He also had a number of bumper and hurdle winners and currently has an active interest in breeding thoroughbreds.

Mr Cully will be presented to the press next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the SJAI’s acting director general Ronan Corrigan yesterday described the association’s finances for the past year as “healthy”.

The financial year ended on October 31 and an audit is currently underway. Mr Corrigan said: “We are led to believe by our accountants that the association will show a good operating surplus for the year.”

He also said shows will have star ratings applied in 2007, which will allow competitors to assess standards. It will also help the SJAI to determine where improvements can be made.

“The onus will be on everybody, including competitors, to improve the sport and make it more appealing,” said Mr Corrigan.

Shows will be assessed under the following criteria: start times, facilities and standard of competition.

* EVENTING has been hit by another tragedy, with the death yesterday of South Korean rider Kim Hyung-chil.

Mr Hyung-chil, 47, fell from his horse, Bundaberg Black, during the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

The accident occurred in wet conditions at the eighth obstacle on the cross country phase of the competition. The horse got caught in the obstacle, throwing Mr Hyung-chil, before rolling over him.

He was attended to at the scene and was hospitalised, but never regained consciousness.

The competition was halted for two-and-a-half hours, as the course was inspected.

Mr Hyung-chil, a father of two, was not without experience, having won the individual silver medal at the last Asian Games in Korea in 2002.

His death is the second to hit the sport in the space of a month, with 17-year-old American Mia Eriksson suffering a fatal fall from her horse, the seven-year-old Koryography, at Galway Downs Three-Day Event in California.

In August, Armagh rider Sherelle Duke, 28, was killed when her horse fell on her at Brockenhurst Park, England.

* JESSICA KÜRTEN has slipped one place to fourth in the world show jumping rankings.

She was displaced by Germany’s Meredith-Michaels Beerbaum, who jumped from sixth to second. In doing so, the American-born woman has claimed the title of world’s highest ranked woman from Kürten.

German-based Kürten, from Cullybackey, Co Antrim, has 3084 points, putting her almost 200 behind third-placed Swede Rolf Göran-Bengtsson on 3278. Michaels-Beerbaum is on 3363, with Germany’s Marcus Ehning maintaining his lead on 3511.

Kürten, 37, is listed to compete alongside Cian O’Connor and Cameron Hanley this weekend at the World Cup Show in Geneva, Switzerland.

She will travel there on the back of a third-place with Castle Forbes Libertina in the grand prix at the five star show in Paris last weekend, for which she pocketed €19,000.

O’Connor lines out in Geneva as the only Irish rider on the Western European League, with two points, picked up in Oslo in October.

* JESSICA KÜRTEN wasn’t the only rider to feature in the French capital last weekend. Cheshire-based Corkman Billy Twomey rode Anastasia III to eighth place in a 1.50m speed class when clear.

* The pairing’s consistency also saw them finish ninth in a two-phase with a double clear after 56 went to the starting line.

In Munich, the aforementioned Cameron Hanley saw his grand prix ambitions dashed last Sunday when four faults left the Frankfurt-based Mayoman in tenth place on SIEC Hippica Kerman.

The 33-year-old had reason to be confident going into the competition, having posted a double clear with the 12-year-old gelding in Friday’s 1.50m jump-off class to place eighth of 55 starters.

A similar result came with Livello, a horse Hanley describes as his “big hope for the future”, the seven-year-old stallion finishing faultless in a 1.35m competition for youngsters.