SJI suspends rule for members who attend unaffiliated shows
The decision by the SJI national executive comes a fortnight before the unaffiliated show at Millstreet, Co Cork. The event is organised by Noel C Duggan, who made a complaint to the Competition Authority, that, by sanctioning members who attend shows, the association is restricting a commercial entity's ability to undertake its activities.
It will be seen as a major success for Mr Duggan, who has battled for years to show the SJI insurance is inadequate. He said yesterday: "I am elated and it amounts to total vindication. Honesty, integrity, determination and facts survive over threats of sanctions. Justice has been achieved. I am looking forward to our show. It was a total success last year and we are geared up for a bigger and better event this year, under the present circumstances. Everybody is welcome and entries are still being taken."
SJI chairman Christy Murphy said the suspension of the rule was agreed, even though the Competition Authority found the SJI was within its rights to impose it.
"The executive has suspended rule 299n — which enforces sanctions on members who attend unauthorised shows — until it digests the Competition Authority's report. This was a unanimous decision," said SJI chairman Christy Murphy yesterday.
"The authority finding is 98% in favour of SJI. SJI has no case to answer. In fact, this is the second time that the authority has found that SJI, as the governing body for the sport, is entitled to enforce its rules for the benefit of the sport. While some of our rules were deemed restrictive, as the governing body it is within our remit to act accordingly."
Mr Duggan’s questioning of the SJI insurance cover came after he claimed its insurance company refused to indemnify him following an accident at his 2007 show. He staged an “independent”, unaffiliated show in the Cork town last year, demonstrating its importance to the show jumping fraternity, with large numbers of SJI members and officials defying the threat of SJI sanction to attend. The SJI — under its then chairman, Ronan Corrigan — vowed to fine/suspend members, but at a fractious SJI AGM in September, at which a motion that SJI not sanction those who participated in the Millstreet Show was carried.
Meanwhile, having discussed an evaluation of the SJI insurance policy — conducted by independent expert Damien Woods on behalf of Horse Sport Ireland — Mr Murphy said: "SJI has decided to engage Mr Woods to address any issues and bring clarity to the SJI insurance."
HSI chairman Joe Walsh said: “I expect that the SJI will move to address the points in the report and anybody who has an interest in the sport should stay focused on that.”
Meanwhile, Ireland has slipped to third in the FEI Nations Cup Series after the team of Shane Breen (Cos I Can, 8/12), Jennifer Crooks (SF Uryadi 0/16), Billy Twomey (Romanov 8/16), and Denis Lynch (Nabab's Son 4/4), placed equal sixth in Hickstead, England, yesterday.
In the European Championships, the pony team of Bertram Allen (Acapella Z 0/4), Max O'Reilly Hyland (Rock Dee Jay 1/0), Michael Duffy (Kadia Mouche 4/4) and Emma O'Dwyer (Jacknell Street 4/0), won silver.
