Redirection of high performance money may alter HSI plans

SENIOR rider Michael Ryan says Eventing Ireland must have good cause if it chooses to redirect the money it annually allocates for high performance.

In this column last week, Eventing Ireland chairman John Wright said it was possible the organisation’s board of directors may have to spend the funding in other areas, such as on a salary for a new manager, an IT system and on improving venues around the country.

Last year, Eventing Ireland channelled €75,000 through Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) for high performance, but Ryan, a stalwart of the Irish squad for many years, said: “I’m sure most of the money in high performance is spent on training, but I presume if the board decides not to support this, they would have good reason.”