Delaying Euro performance report publication a mistake

Any decision by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) to delay until after the Olympics the publication of the review into last year’s poor performance at the European Championships would be flawed.

The fact HSI took two months after the championships to announce the Sia Group review, suggested it was putting distance between the event and the unveiling of its conclusions.

Throw in that it took another five weeks — after Sia’s Jane Williams presentation to the HSI board — before it announced last week it may delay publication of the report until a year after the championships, and you have further cause to question HSI motives.

HSI’s rationale for a possible delay in publishing the report is it wants “to keep riders and management focused” on the fact that two show jumpers will contest the Games.

It is, however, more the case that it sees deferring publication as the lesser of two evils, preferring to take the flak for this option than opening up to scrutiny material that may prove unpalatable to some.

It could be argued though that not publishing it will leave a vacuum, destined to be filled by speculation, which cannot be conducive to best preparation for the Games.

Ireland show jumping team manager, Robert Splaine, believes that, if there is something to be learned from the review, he would welcome its publication.

“My brief is to be impartial. It has broad scope, but most of all my job is to ensure that the Irish team is professional in every aspect of its approach and to fly the flag with dignity and pride.

“The review was commissioned in light of our failure to qualify a team for the Olympics, but now we have earned two individual places, it is my job to select those two riders and, while from the outside it may seem like an easy task, it is not straightforward. My job is to put out the two best athletes in London, irrespective of who they are, and I am determined to do that.

“I am not aware of the content of the review. I have not been party to any decision about its publication or possible non-publication, but if there is any benefit to be gained from this review, particularly in the run up to the Olympics, I would welcome it being made public and I would expect it to be made known to me, at least, if there is any benefit to be derived.

“Any manager is open to criticism and I imagine there could be criticism in the review, but if it is constructive, I would welcome it, as I always have in the past.”

HSI wouldn’t comment this week. Strangely, Jane Williams said she would be “delighted to talk as soon as the review is finished”.

Interestingly, this situation also highlights the fact HSI is a limited company and not a statutory body. The latter could make it subject to the Freedom of Information Act and, since HSI is funded by taxpayers’ money, it could be argued there is an onus on it to make the review’s findings public. The HSI board is scheduled to meet on April 4 and it must agree to publish the Sia Group findings in the spirit of openness and transparency.

* US-based Corkman Shane Sweetnam won the Challenge Cup in Florida last night, producing a double clear with Amaretto Darco.

Tipperary rider Kevin Babington and the gelding Mark Q followed their fifth in last weekend’s World Cup contest with seventh place.