HSI to issue draft of strategic plan

THE board of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) this week agreed to put a draft proposal of its strategic plan forward for public consultation.

The plan, which will cover the years 2009-12, is expected to be available for inspection within the next few days on the HSI website: www.horsesportireland.ie

The plan was discussed by the HSI breeding sub-committee on Monday and the board on Tuesday, having been drawn up with the assistance of Genesis consultants. The board hopes to be in a position to approve the plan by the end of October, allowing for about three weeks’ consultation.

The plan will cover four main areas: a market-led approach to a breeding policy, increasing participation in equestrian sport, improved infrastructure and leadership.

The question of State funding is sure to also be addressed, but the current economic difficulties, means retaining current supports will be the focus.

With the sourcing of a sponsor for national teams mooted in the past, exploring methods to enhance private funding will also be a consideration.

Tuesday’s board meeting also saw discussion of the feasibility study into staging the World Equestrian Games in Ireland in 2014.

As expected, the study highlighted the need for substantial public money. Discussions are continuing with government agencies, but if the go-ahead is given, HSI must submit a proposal for the FEI’s general assembly in Buenos Aires on November 15-22.

A committee was set up to explore the staging of the Games in Ireland when Alltech founder and president Pearse Lyons offered to replicate the $10m sponsorship deal he has with the 2010 Games in Kentucky.

* THE management and finance committee of ShowjumpingIreland (SJI) last week took the drastic step of dispensing with the position of director general, resulting in Pat Cully losing his job.

However, chairman Ronan Corrigan yesterday said the move, endorsed by the executive this week, did not indicate the body was in financial difficulties, explaining that it was one of a range of cutbacks that will allow the association to confront the current economic difficulties.

He outlined SJI’s three major areas of expenditure: * The association’s €2m offices, which were secured with a €450,000 deposit and a mortgage. * Involvement in international participation, which saw a renegotiated three-year deal with HSI that resulted in a payment of €200,000 for 2008. This rises to €225,000 next year and €250,000 in 2010. SJI also paid a retrospective payment of €150,000 for the period 2006/07.* Expanded TV coverage.

With regard to dispensing with the position of director general, Corrigan said the management and finance committee had “the power to hire and fire without requiring the executive’s permission” while a “decent” severance package had been agreed with Cully.

He said the committee, of which he is a member, was to meet again next week to look at strategies for the next two years.

He confirmed that the association’s membership fee would increase, probably by about €15, though this had to be finalised.

Corrigan also said all horse doping test results for 2008 will be published soon. He said there were no positive results from what he said were 59 tests in 2008.

* CLONAKILTY teenager Brian Morrison turns part-time salesman this weekend when he saddles up Michael and Patricia’s Ryan’s Dances With Wolves in the junior class at Ballindenisk.

Fresh from his win in the CCIJ one-star at Necarne Castle, Morrison got the nod from the Ryans to ride Dances — which is part-owned by Naomi James — after they decided to put the 10-year-old gelding up for sale. They are targeting the young rider/junior market and, not surprisingly, feel Morrison is ideal to show off the horse’s attributes.

“This is Brian’s first time to ride for us, but we want to sell the horse, who we think is suited to junior or young rider level, where he can be very competitive,” said Ryan yesterday. “Basically, Dances With Wolves is not good enough to go the senior route,” he explained.

“I only asked Brian during the week after his win in Necarne. It is a good opportunity for him and allows us to get exposure for the horse. Brian has won two internationals this year and I couldn’t ask for a better rider to showcase the horse,” said Ryan of the 17-year-old, who claimed his first international class at Ballygraffan in April.

As for the Bandon Grammar School student, he is hopeful of good things this weekend.

“I’ve ridden Dances With Wolves twice this week and I am delighted to get the chance to compete him. He has had some good results and you have to be optimistic, but I will just have to see how it goes on the day.”

He also lines out with the five-year-old Captain Conquest.

“It’s his first year eventing and I’m very excited about him. I’ve had a couple of placings to date and, while he was green cross-country, we’ve ironed those problems out. He has done great tests in every event so far and he is on track to move up to two-star next year,” said Morrison, whose win at Necarne with Oakengrove Magic saw him the only rider to finish on his dressage score. Fifteenth after the opening phase, he rose to fifth after the cross-country, with a clear in the show jumping giving him victory by 0.5 penalties.

Michael Ryan brings three to Ballindenisk, hoping to qualify all for Cameri in Italy (Oct 24-26). Ballylynch Adventure is entered in the advanced CNC three-star, with Ballylynch Sky High and Annestown Emperor in the two-star. Ryan’s wife Patricia lines out with Tom and Carol Henry’s Fernhill Skyport.

Dressage for all classes at Ballindenisk takes place tomorrow, coinciding with show jumping for all classes except the pony championships and the Michael Leonard championships for five and six-year-old horses.

Cross country for all classes takes place on Sunday, starting about 11:00am. Show jumping for the pony and Michael Leonard championships, in reverse order of merit, starts about 1pm.

At the request of riders, an additional CNC three-star has been added to the schedule, which in total has attracted 230 entries.

While the forecast for tomorrow is for heavy rain, organiser Peter Fell is confident the ground will stand up to the punishment.

* CAMILLA SPEIRS was delighted with her ninth place in the Young Rider European Eventing Championships in Kreuth, Germany, last weekend.

The Kildare-born 19-year-old was making her debut at the grade and ended on 56.10 penalties with the eight-year-old Portersize Just A Jiff.

Lying 19th after dressage, she improved by five places with a clear cross country. Despite four faults in the show jumping, she again rose five places.

Speirs said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. The horse is still relatively young, but we put in a lot of hard work over the summer, and it really paid off here. He simply flew round the cross country course, where we had a zero score, and we had just one fence down in show jumping. He has certainly stepped up his game.”

Wicklow’s Sam Dempsey and the Irish-bred gelding Teldon finished in 21st place.

* PRIZEMONEY of €21,000 along with breeders’ prizes and training bursaries will guarantee Horse Sport Ireland’s Winter Tour will be a big attraction.

The initiative, aimed at boosting show jumping participation and the promotion of Irish-bred horses and ponies, will have three qualifying shows: Claregalway Equestrian Centre (Nov 15), Killossery Lodge Stud (Nov 22/23), and Kernan Equestrian Centre (Nov 29/30), with a final in Cavan (Dec 13).

Fifteen horses and ponies from each qualifying venue will be eligible for the final.

Horse classes are restricted to Irish-born animals, while pony classes are open to all breeds.

* JOHN FLOODY will be hoping for back-to-back wins when he lines out in the third leg of the ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix league in Crossmaglen on Sunday.

Winner at Mullingar last week with Ashbourne, he will be bidding to improve his joint third place in the league, which sees him just four points behind leader Benny Keuhnle.