HSI initiates review of SJI’s insurance policy
In a statement yesterday, HSI confirmed that “at the most recent HSI board meeting of June 7, it was decided to appoint an independent insurance expert to evaluate the SJI insurance policy”.
HSI chief executive Damian McDonald said the review was prompted by the level of media coverage on the matter and the need to bring closure to questions regarding the level of cover provided by the SJI policy.
“The issue was raised at our board meeting and there has been an amount of debate in the media on the issue over a protracted period,” said McDonald. “The board took the view that the appointment of an independent evaluator by Horse Sport Ireland to appraise the current SJI policy would establish the factual position and hopefully bring finality to this matter, one way or the other.”
The expert appointed to evaluate the SJI insurance policy is Damien Woods, managing director of Insurance Risk Projects Ltd. Woods is a former deputy chairman and chief executive of Marsh Ireland and a former executive chairman of Willis Ireland.
An HSI spokesman said that it was expected his report would be made available to the HSI board in time for their next meeting on July 21, but explained that HSI were not in a position, at present, to say whether the findings would be published.
A spokesman for SJI said: “We welcome the independent review and we will accept the findings of the independent reviewer. Without wanting to preempt those findings, the SJI believes its insurance record speaks for itself.”
The review comes after years of doubt surrounding the level of cover provided by the SJI insurance, particularly in relation to commercial premises.
Yesterday, though, Gary Johnson of Wexford Insurances — providers of the SJI cover — was adamant that the policy was adequate.
“It is very clear and up on the SJI website for all to see,” he said.
* DENIS LYNCH will be aiming to improve on his third place in the GCT rankings when he lines out in Monte Carlo this weekend. The Tipperary rider has picked up points in each of the GCT’s four contests this year. He was fifth in three of these, riding All Inclusive NRW (Doha), Abbervail van het Dingeshof (Hamburg) and last time out in Cannes, France, with Lantinus. All Inclusive NRW is his choice for Monaco, along with Nabab’s Son and Night Train.
Billy Twomey is one of three riders in fifth place on the GCT leaderboard, counting victory in Valencia as his best result. This came with Je t’Aime Flamenco, but he tuned up Tinka’s Serenade yesterday with a clear round in a 1.45m contest in which Lynch and All Inclusive had four faults.
Under the heading of “other riders” in the principality are Italy-based Louth native Mark McAuley (Kerball and Loriot) and Joanne Sloane Allen, who rides Wkd Pepperpot and Wilke. She placed second on the latter yesterday with one of only four clear rounds in a 1.15m special invitational class.
In a one-round pony contest, Bertram Allen and Acapella Z finished third.
* SHANE BREEN got his Hickstead Derby meeting off to the perfect start yesterday, winning the speed derby qualifier and also placing third. Pole position came with the 10-year-old chestnut mare Magic Fox, on which he had almost four seconds to spare over Britain’s Louise Pavitt on the stallion Unbelievable Darco. Breen placed third with the 13-year-old gelding Mullaghdrin Gold Rain at the West Sussex venue, which is home turf for the Tipperary rider, who has been based there for a number of years since marrying Chloe Bunn.
In a 1.45m speed class, Gerard Clarke and Jakes Dream placed second.
* The TRM National Grand Prix League moves south this weekend, with two venues staging contests. The opener is at West Clare tomorrow, with Charleville Show, Co Cork, the battleground on Sunday.
Mervyn Clarke, on 35 points, and Peter Smyth, with 29 points, are dictating matters at the top of the leaderboard, with Ger O’Neill and Francis Connors next best on 18 points apiece.
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