HSI to probe poor showing in Madrid

HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) is to undertake a review of Ireland’s poor performance in last week’s European Championships.

Denis Lynch, Shane Sweetnam, Nicola FitzGibbon and Billy Twomey failed to qualify a team for next year’s Olympics, with only Twomey exceeding hopes until the third day, when team aspirations had already evaporated.

HSI chief executive Damian McDonald confirmed yesterday a review would take place, but he did not say if it would be independent, or, its findings made public.

“There will, of course, be a review of the team’s performance in Madrid, but it is too early to say what form that will take,” he said in a statement.

He also conceded there could be implications in terms of state funding.

“The Irish Sports Council have been hugely supportive of equestrian sport and, while the results at underage level have been excellent, we have not delivered as we would have liked at senior level. We’re in a results-based business and not qualifying a full team will obviously not help our case for funding.”

McDonald also noted that in terms of Robert Splaine’s future as manager, the Corkman “had a contract until the end of 2012”.

Lynch was frank yesterday in accepting he did not reach the level demanded by himself and expected by many.

On the other hand, he said it is unfair to single out any individual — rider or management — saying that, fundamentally, the performance was about the state of the sport and industry in Ireland coming home to roost.

“I think that, with all that Lantinus has achieved and with such high expectations, we should have been a lot better. But it is not just about me, the team package was not good enough. It’s a simple thing to do, to point the finger at any one person. Instead, we need to ask questions as a team and as an industry,” said Lynch.

“Of the five horses in Madrid, four belonged to foreign owners. Mainly, our top riders are based abroad and we are dependent very much on foreign investors. That is worrying and it goes to show how weak the industry is in Ireland.

“Look at the German winners, four of their horses belonged to German owners. It is the same situation with the Dutch and the French. Our industry is 20 years behind and, until we improve, we need to promote foreign ownership.

“It is the same with shows in Ireland, with the national level at 1.45m and the fact we have just one international show a year, that is not good enough.

“Tell me how many good horses have come out of Ireland in the past 10 years? Even the horses at Madrid were not good enough. Basically, we are still a level off what is required and we do not deserve to be at London as a team.”

He says a long-term approach is required and he points to the foresight of legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien.

“Our breeding of horses is just not good enough. We need to improve. That is what Vincent O’Brien did with his vision 50 years ago.

“Our goal should be to make the top five for the next European Championships and the same for the World Equestrian Games in 2014.

“We are not going to repair this overnight and I really think this will take eight to 10 years to achieve.”