Fell family keen to stage eventing qualifier in 2008
Peter Fell said: “We are aiming to run a qualifier on April 19/20 and we see no reason why our application will not be accepted. We have informed Eventing Ireland of our intentions.”
Ballindenisk in Co Cork was the subject of controversy this year when the April event was decimated by the withdrawal of the majority of riders after the unseasonally dry weather lead to hard going. While the Fells worked around the clock with an aerovator to break up the ground, many riders felt the course should have been watered.
The controversy saw Eventing Ireland issue a hard-hitting statement, in which it said it was initiating an investigation.
Yesterday, Mr Fell said: “I agree that this year some things were not right, but we have many plans to improve the event for next year. For example, our farming practices will change to ensure there is no livestock or agricultural machinery on the course from this October, which should reduce compacting.”
He added: “We are, obviously, open to any suggestions from Eventing Ireland, the riders and horse owners as to how we can improve our event.”
Every event is subject to the scrutiny of a technical delegate and, while it is understood the report on Ballindenisk noted the hard ground, it was not damning in its assessment.
In a statement yesterday, Eventing Ireland made no mention of Ballindenisk, nor its investigation, but said it was “pleased” to receive an application from Tattersall’s Ireland to host a qualifier in 2008, adding: “Eventing Ireland is happy to support this application.”
Chairman Neil Morris was quoted: “Tattersall’s have run a top-class event for the past two years, been voted the best event in Ireland by the members and received enthusiastic reviews by everyone that has visited and competed. I have every confidence that Tattersall’s will produce a world-class competition if their bid is successful.”
It is thought unlikely by some that Ireland would get two qualifiers, but yesterday Michael Stone, the secretary general of equestrian’s world governing body, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), would not discount this.
“It would not be unreasonable to expect Ireland could have two World Cup qualifiers,” said the Dubliner.
In April, days after the Ballindenisk event, Mr Stone was sympathetic, saying “every event can have a bad year”.
Yesterday, he reiterated this and again pointed out that Badminton — arguably the world’s most prestigious event and backed by massive resources — mirrored Ballindenisk, with more than 25% of riders withdrawing amid worries about the hard ground.
