Fearon urges targeting of pony and junior nations cup series
He also said he would “dearly love” to see a round in Ireland sometime.
The FEI this week announced the new series would be launched next year on a trial basis and Fearon said: “The last pony nations cup in Ireland took place in Necarne and that was a good many years ago. We have spoken about putting on a nations cup since and I would be 110% behind it.”
The FEI said the series will take place in Moorsele, Belgium; Fontainebleau, France; Wierden, Netherlands; Aach, Germany, concluding at the European Championships. It will be expanded in later years to take events in Poland, Italy and other European countries and Fearon says it would make sense for Ireland to host a round.
“Last year, we had teams in Fontainebleau, Moorsele, Aach, and the championships, so it would make sense to up our effort and try to do well in the series. In Aach we took bronze, Fontainebleau, silver, while at Moorsele we were sixth and at the championships in Avenche we finished fifth and were unlucky not to take a medal. This shows that we could be serious contenders in the series if we put our minds to it.
“As for staging a nations cup in Ireland, we are well placed to do that. The new Premier Series for pony riders has shown we can put on high-quality competitions, with good prizemoney. We intend to build on this and, next year, we will definitely put on at least two three-day shows for ponies. Our course builders are getting better at building tracks that prepare riders for what they will face when they travel abroad. But we will also be looking at bringing in a foreign designer to further accustom the riders.
“These shows will provide a foundation to stage a nations cup show and, in fact, we are looking at putting on a nations cup-style competition, which could act as a sort of dry run.”
Fearon acknowledged finance could be a problem, but it was one that could be surmounted.
“With HSI and Showjumping Ireland on board, a nations cup show could be achieved here. There would definitely be a payback in terms of the experience gained by our riders. As their coach, Irish riders have worked hard for me and won many a nations cup, but to win championship gold we must move up a gear.
“Many times, families go to championships and it’s an eye-opener. By staging competitions of nations cup calibre in Ireland, riders and their parents will know exactly what is ahead of them and what is required in terms of mental preparation and in terms of horse power.”
The high performance manager for juniors and young riders, John Ledingham, echoed Fearon’s sentiments.
“We were always struggling to find enough nations cup competitions for juniors. Last year we went to the British championships and Conor Drain won the grand prix there. We went to Moorsele, Reims in France, and then the European Championships in Prague, where the team finished sixth. So such a series would be very useful.
“As for staging a show in Ireland, we would have to make it attractive to entice people to board two ferries. Remember, a team in Holland can drive to many nations cup shows in a number of hours.
“But if it is desirable, everything is possible,” said Ledingham.
* MUNSTER’S show jumpers have been urged to make a last-day bid to sell tickets for tonight’s trip to the dogs at Curraheen Park.
Everything these days is qualified by the economic downturn, but organiser Jerry Sweetnam hopes to buck the trend and repeat last year’s success, when an amazing €27,000 was raised.
However, he is conscious this will not be achieved unless everyone plays their part.
“This is an opportunity for members to contribute vital support for their own sport, particularly as next year is likely to be a tough year in terms of sourcing sponsorship,” said Sweetnam. “I ask members to make an effort to sell their tickets and to return the stubs and money as soon as possible. Considering the current economic climate, if we can do as well as last year, I will be delighted.”
Aside from permitting entry to the Cork greyhound track tonight, the tickets, priced at a reasonable five euro, have some very attractive prizes. The winner will receive €1,000, with €500 on offer for second. Then there are pairs of tickets for the 2009 All-Ireland hurling and football finals, two tickets for a Heineken Cup match at Thomond Park and a three-night stay in a hotel during the Dublin Horse Show.
The money raised last year supported four new ventures: The Pony Premier League, a 1.30m Grand Prix League, a 0.75m Young Horse League and a league for amateur riders.
THE Federation Equestre Internationale yesterday spoke on behalf of the “equestrian family” when it announced the setting up of a commission on medication and doping.
Familial interests aside, the development reflects the turmoil that has beset the FEI regarding its handling of the issue in the past few years.
It is also an acknowledgment by the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Association that something needs to be done, as the commission will be chaired by the IOC medical commission chairman and WADA vice-chairman, Dr Arne Ljungqvist.
The FEI said: “The commission will offer a robust examination of the way equine anti-doping policies can be further harmonised to WADA norms to ensure horse welfare remains at the heart of the system and is protected.”
The FEI said the development represented an effort “to overcome the grey areas between therapeutic medication and doping”.
It will also seek to “clarify processes and procedures relating to the analysis of samples in order to lead to a consensus on a simple definition that gives the IOC, WADA and all stakeholders a clear definition of parallel protocols to those used for human athletes”.
The statement came a day before the FEI Bureau begins its annual meeting in Buenos Aries. FEI president Princess Haya is sure to be questioned as to the organisation’s handling of the Olympics, when six horses failed drugs tests, and also her recent controversial call for the resignation of the FEI dressage committee.
* DERMOTT LENNON won the grand prix at Towerlands, England, last Sunday, as Irish riders filled four of the top 10 places.
The former world champion was one of nine that made it to the jump-off and claimed his second win of the show with Woods Rosbotham’s Hallmark Elite, coming home with more than one-and-a-half seconds to spare over Britain’s Guy Williams on Torinto Van De Middelstede.
The Co Down rider pocketed €5,800 for his win.
Waterford’s Anthony Condon and Sue Davies’ Goldex slotted into third with a double clear, while four-faults kept Hickstead-based Shane Breen and Carmena Z back in sixth.
Condon is based in Cheshire with Billy Twomey and he saw his mentor put up a relatively fast time with Blue Thunder. However, eight faults ensured the Corkman could do no better than seventh.
The grand prix was Lennon’s second win with Hallmark Elite at the show, as he again kept Williams and Torinto Van De Middelstede off the top spot. Breen also won an accumulator class on Milord D’Elle.
* THE German Equestrian Federation wants the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to at least a double the four-month ban imposed by the FEI tribunal on show jumper Christian Ahlmann.
The rider’s horse Cöster was one of a five — including Denis Lynch’s ride Lantinus — to test positive for capsaicin at the Olympics.
The tribunal judged Ahlmann’s misdemeanour to be a medication case.
However, the German federation “considers that Christian Ahlmann committed a doping rule violation rather than a medication rule violation. It requests that the rider be declared ineligible for a period of no less than eight months”.
What will be curious about this, however, is that the FEI tribunal must now defend its judgment before CAS and, by association, also defend Ahlmann. It will also be interesting to see how the German federation can show doping was involved.
If CAS uphold the federation’s request, it is unlikely to have any ramifications for Denis Lynch, as Horse Sport Ireland has already said it had no intention of seeking a lengthening of the Tipperary rider’s three-month suspension.
* A TRAINING and education day for juniors and young riders will take place on Coilog, Co Kildare, on December 28. Bookings can be made through ShowjumpingIreland office. It will be organised by John Ledingham and Tom Holden, Taylor Vard will conduct proceedings. It will involve course walks and focus on getting youngsters up to championship level.
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