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London and, while Breen understands that the pair would have a legitimate claim to carry Irish hopes, he feels this is superseded by the need to send the rider/horse combinations with the best chance of glory.

“Billy and Denis, with a bit of luck, are going to secure the two places and, obviously, they will want to represent Ireland as they did all the hard work. But on the flip side, you have to send your two best combinations,” said the Hickstead-based Tipperary rider, who lies fifth on the Olympic rankings table.

“I would not be against the two guys representing us as they have vast experience and they obviously have horses that are contenders so, understandably, both would be upset if they were not selected, even if it is for legitimate reasons. But riders have to show form as they approach the Olympics. That also applies if a rider has to put in another horse; that horse also has to justify its place.

“So a plan has to be designed for all riders in the run-up to the Olympics, that way the selectors can choose the best combinations for London, mindful of the fact there are only a handful of horses that can jump at Olympic level. It has to be a level playing field for everyone.”

He also confirmed he was contacted by Jane Williams of the Sia Group, which is reviewing Ireland’s failure to qualify a team for the Olympics at last year’s European Championships.

“We had a good discussion. It was not about pointing the figure, more about ideas of how we can all pull together and do well at future championships. It is more about looking forward, as to ideas for a better performance. Show jumping should be one of the contenders for an Olympic medal, but it is a fiasco that we don’t have a team there,” said Breen.

As an aside, it was interesting how a recent Horse Sport Ireland press release noted that the “ultimate” decision on who competes in London rests with the Olympic Council of Ireland, whose president Pat Hickey was none too pleased at the disqualification of Lynch at the 2008 Games.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Jane Williams will present the findings of her review at the first 2012 meeting of the HSI board today and, according to a HSI spokesman, it is anticipated the report will be made public.

The spokesman also said the HSI rules committee had “considered all the issues” raised by ShowjumpingIreland in relation to the anti-doping and medication programme and “the outcome will be explained” to the board.

* Britain’s Tina Cook and her 2008 Olympic bronze medal-winning and double European gold medal-winning horse Miners Frolic are among the confirmed entries for Ballindenisk Horse Trials.

The horse almost died last year from colitis, but according to Cook “is fit and well” as she eyes a place in the London Olympics.

In total, the CCI three-star and CIC three-star have attracted 50 entries, including such stars as Blyth Tait, Ian Stark, Pippa Funnell, Rodney Powell, Lucinda Fredericks and Ollie Townend. A full-strength Irish complement features Michael and Patricia Ryan, Joseph Murphy, Jayne Doherty, Sam Watson and Liz Power.

The event on February 24-26 is the last to provide Olympic ranking points before the cut-off on March 1.

Highlighting the importance of the event for some is the decision by Thailand’s Nina Ligon to bring three horses from her US base at a speculated cost of up to €50,000. She is the 2011 winner of the FEI HSBC Rising Star Award and the US Young Rider of the Year for 2010 and 2011.

* Ireland will be represented by a team at the Paralympic Games for the first time, HSI announced this week.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh congratulated the Irish Para Equestrian team on what he said was a hugely significant achievement, and he acknowledged “the roles of Avril O’Byrne and Naomi Donoghue who were the chefs d’equipe over the last few years, as well as team coach Donie MacNamara. Dara Kearney has recently been appointed as chef d’equipe for the team by Horse Sport Ireland and as team manager for London by Paralympics Ireland.”

The equestrian Paralympics take place from August 30 to September 4, with 11 gold medals on offer.