Breen calls for ‘level playing field’ in Olympic selection

Shane Breen obviously hopes Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch secure places for Ireland at the Olympics, but he also believes it is logical there should be a “level playing field” when it comes to selecting who lines out in London.

The latest rankings released yesterday by the FEI show Twomey maintaining his place at the top on 2,035 points, followed by Lynch on 1,980pts, as they aim to secure the maximum two places for Ireland, with Portugal’s Luciana Diniz (1,968pts) filling the last qualifying place, and Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya (1,765pts) slipping out of contention as the March 1 deadline approaches.

However, while individual riders secure the places, it is manager Robert Splaine who decides those who will travel to London and, while Breen understands that the pair would have a legitimate claim to carry Irish hopes, he feels this is superseded by the need to send the rider/horse combinations with the best chance of glory.