Irish team not part of Lynch’s plan for the year
Yesterday, his brother Shay, who acts as his manager, said the Tipperary rider was forging ahead with plans that do not involve riding for Ireland.
“I can confirm at this point that Denis will not be available for selection in 2011,” he said. “During the week, he planned out his itinerary for the year and there is no Irish team involvement at this point. However, he is proud to compete for Ireland and would not rule out doing so again in the future.”
Lynch, a key player in the Irish set-up, has also considered competing for Germany, where has lived for 16 years, but has not gone further than recent informal enquiries.
It is felt that Denis is unwilling to commit to meeting HSI because concrete proposals have not been put on the table in relation to issues he feels require addressing if a repeat of Ireland’s disappointing performance at last year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky is to be avoided, even though Lynch accepts his own performance was well below par. Lynch has also cited differences with team manager Robert Splaine for his stand-off.
Shay Lynch’s comments yesterday came after he issued a statement on behalf of the world number nine show jumper in response to HSI declaring that it had previously offered to meet Lynch and that the offer still stood.
Lynch, however, yesterday countered that he had twice written to Splaine subsequent to the World Equestrian Games, but that the response was inadequate in that “it addressed the issues with a one-line dismissal of the issues raised and instead offered a suggestion to meet. These informal meetings have not resulted in any success in the past.”
In its response last week, HSI alluded to a challenge to Splaine’s position, but Lynch said: “There was no suggestion in any of the correspondence from me in relation to HSI prerogative to appoint the manager of the Irish show jumping team. I did not nor do I wish to have any input into the selection of the Irish chef d’equipe. That decision should always rest with HSI.”
Lynch also “completely rejected” trenchant criticism from Paraic Geraghty — an assistant selector to Splaine until recently — in last Saturday’s Irish Field, saying it was insulting to his professionalism and dedication to the Irish team in the past.
Lynch concluded his statement by saying his decision not to be “able to give a full commitment in 2011 to the Irish show jumping team was a very difficult one to take” that came “after considerable deliberation. I wish to draw a line under this matter now and have no desire to make any further comment but I felt it was important to set the record straight,” he said, adding he was grateful for the “fantastic support through good and difficult times” he had received from the Irish public.
Lynch’s refusal to make himself available has put HSI in an invidious position, as his stance contravenes its rules, which state a rider must compete if selected by the team manager. It is possible that HSI will not permit him to jump as an Irishman on an individual basis, which would amount to a serious escalation of the situation. While HSI will feel compelled to uphold its rules, the governing body last night continued to appeal to Lynch, while warning him of the consequences of his actions.
A spokesman said: “As we stated last week, we had offered to meet with Denis before he chose to speak about these matters in the media. That offer still stands. Denis needs to sit down with the team manager with a view to resolving this matter in compliance with the Horse Sport Ireland rules and code of conduct which all the riders signed up to.” The spokesman said Lynch had signed up to these rules again as recently as November 30, 2010.
(Jan 21, 2011)
In light of the recent statement from Horse Sport Ireland regarding my decision not to make myself available to the Irish Senior show jumping team, there are a couple of matters which I need to address arising from HSI's statement and subsequent quotes from a former member of the Irish show jumping management team.
1. In relation to the "several proposals" from Mr. Robert Splaine to meet with me in recent weeks, I received a response by fax on December 22nd from Mr. Splaine. This letter was dated 16th December and was in response to a second request from me to reply to the issues raised in my original letter on November 16th. It addressed the issues with a one line dismissal of the issues raised and instead a suggestion to meet. These informal meetings have not resulted in any success in the past.
2. Mr. Damian McDonald did call me on the 7th of January. I phoned Mr. McDonald on the 11th to discuss the matter further but again, no progress was made.
3. I responded to questions from Irish Examiner report, Mr. John Tynan, who had heard speculation regarding my involvement with the Irish team in 2011. I categorically reject any suggestion that I approached the media. It is in that context, that my comments should be judged.
4. There was no suggestion in any of the correspondence from me in relation to HSI prerogative to appoint the Manager of the Irish Show Jumping Team. I did not nor do I wish to have any input into the selection of the Irish chef d'equipe. That decision should always rest with HSI.
I would like to make it absolutely clear that none of the issues raised in the correspondence to Robert Splaine or HSI were of a personal nature. All of issues raised were entirely of a professional basis.
I would also like to take this opportunity to respond to Mr. Paraic Geraghty's comments in the edition of the Irish Field dated 15th January and in particular to Mr. Geragthy's quotes of a personal nature. As reported, there was no suggestion that I did not accept responsibility for my disappointing performance in Kentucky. It would be very surprising that, as Mr. Geraghty position as "advisor" to Mr. Splaine and a member of the Irish management team, he was not fully aware of the matters in which I sought to seek reform as outlined in my correspondence over the last three months.
These issues, I believed, were for the greater good for the Irish show jumping team. It is very clear from his comments his view of me as a person and as a show jumper, which while disappointing were not entirely surprising from my experience in dealing with him over the years. I would like to make it clear that I have always considered it a huge honour to represent the Irish show jumping team and have always given my absolute best. I completely reject his comments that I "came out like a lamb" and "waved the white flag" [at last year’s World Equestrian Games]. They are insulting to my professionalism and dedication, both of which have been evidenced by my performances with Ireland over the years. I would like it stated for the record though, that although receiving no communication to the contrary thus far, I do not believe that Mr. Geraghty's views are shared fully by the Irish management team or Horse Sport Ireland.
My decision to inform HSI that I would not be able to give a full commitment in 2011 to the Irish show jumping team was a very difficult one to take and was taken after considerable deliberation.
I wish to draw a line under this matter now and have no desire to make any further comment but I felt it was important to set the record straight as I have always received fantastic support through good and difficult times from the Irish public back home which I am I and always have been extremely grateful for.
(Issued Jan 14, 2011, in response to Denis Lynch's comments in Irish Examiner, January 12, that he is not available to compete on Irish team)
HORSE Sport Ireland wishes to make the following points in relation to media comments by Irish show jumping rider Denis Lynch this week.
It is Horse Sport Ireland’s view that the appropriate way to resolve any issues which a rider may have with the management of any Irish equestrian team is for the rider to sit down with the Team Manager and discuss them face to face. In recent weeks Denis Lynch has repeatedly declined to do this despite several proposals to this effect from Show Jumping Team Manager Robert Splaine.
In addition, on January 7th last, before Denis raised this issue in the media, the CEO of Horse Sport Ireland Damian McDonald spoke with Denis Lynch to suggest that the Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland Joe Walsh, the Team Manager Robert Splaine and himself were prepared to travel to Europe to meet with Denis and his owner. This offer was declined by Denis who stated that he could not see ‘any benefit’ in doing so.
The offer to meet still stands.
However, we want to make it clear that it is Horse Sport Ireland’s prerogative to appoint the Manager of the Irish Show Jumping team. In addition, any rider who wants to ride for Ireland must be willing to comply in full with Horse Sport Ireland’s rules and code of conduct.
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