Munster chief denies Eventing Ireland board resignation call

THE CHAIRWOMAN of Eventing Ireland’s Munster Region has reiterated that there was no formal motion taken at last week’s regional AGM for the national board to resign.

Marion Donegan says she has checked the minutes of the meeting and said that, while there was discussion on the issue, no recording of a motion took place.

“I have looked at the minutes and, while it was agreed we would take people’s worries to the board, there was no proposal,” she said.

“It was a lively meeting and I feel those that called for board’s resignation were under the impression that it was a formal proposal, but that is not the case.”

However, horseowner Denis Duggan contradicts this.

“I proposed that the board should be sacked in its entirety and [former competitor] Van de Vater seconded that,” said Mr Duggan.

“The chairperson asked if there was a counter proposal and there was no response. It was then pointed out that it was proposed, seconded and that there was nothing to the contrary. It was asked that this be minuted. It was also asked that this be brought to national level.

“We are not deviating from our position and now we want to meet with the chairperson and we want to see the minutes.”

Ms Donegan, a member of the Eventing Ireland board, said the minutes were open to scrutiny and she quoted them thus: “Denis Duggan proposed that we sack the whole board, seconded by Van de Vater. It was pointed out that such a proposal was appropriate at an EGM or national AGM, but not at this Munster meeting [AGM]. At Van’s behest, Marion agreed she would take their concerns to the next board meeting.”

There has been disquiet at the handling of the sport this year, particularly with the shock resignation of the Irish team performance manager Lars Christensson, two weeks prior to the European Championships in Rome, where the decision to send the bare minimum of riders resulted in Ireland finishing with less than the minimum quota of riders, when one horse was injured en-route and another was forced to retire during the cross-country phase.

The Eventing Ireland board is due to meet on December 6, with a ‘communications meeting’ for three days later.

Ms Donegan conceded the board “has not worked out as well as it was hoped it would”.

“Our strategic plan did not work out as well as envisaged. Mistakes were made. But I do not feel the board should resign. It would only cause chaos, particularly with the start up of equestrian sport’s new umbrella body [Horse Sport Ireland] in January.

“Also, there will be a changing of the board members in February. There will be a new chairman, following Neil Morris’s decision in to stand down.”