Interviews for show jumping manager’s job delayed

The impending change of chairman at Horse Sport Ireland has impacted on the second round of interviews for the Irish show jumping manager’s job.

It is believed outgoing chairman Joe Walsh is anxious to leave open the option of having the new chairperson included on the panel for the second round of interviews.

“The dates for the second round of interviews are being finalised,” said a HSI spokesman, referring to “logistical reasons” for the delay.

There was no delay in the sourcing of an eventing manager, as it is understood interviews for the post were completed the week before last. Ginny Elliot had attended for interview, but withdrew her name last week.

*It came as no surprise that Cian O’Connor was named on Tuesday as The Irish Field’s senior show jumper of the year.

His Olympic bronze medal win with Blue Loyd meant there was no contest, while his place on the Aga Khan Trophy-winning team also merited consideration.

The eventing team that placed fifth at the Olympics were trumped in the selecttion of the senior event rider, with the honour going to Co Meath’s Sarah Ennis, in light of her top-four finishes in all the international events in Ireland. Highlights included her victory at the Ballindenisk in September, while she was also second to British Olympian William Fox-Pitt at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials in May.

Paralympian Helen Kearney was named dressage rider of the year. The Co Wicklow-based rider, who has a progressive degenerative disorder, claimed a hat-trick of Olympic medals.

The junior event rider award went to Cathal Daniels from Co Galway, having won individual and team gold medals at the European Championships with Master Murrose.

Wexford’s Paraic Kenny was presented with the junior show jumper of the year award as a result of his role on the pony nations-cup-winning team in France, while also taking the pony grand prix in Hagen, Germany.

*The aforementioned Cian O’Connor and Blue Loyd have finished best of the Irish on the FEI list of rider and horse show jumping combinations for 2012.

O’Connor and the gelding placed 28th, with Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof next best in 37th. The best Irish horse was Castlefield Eclipse, ridden by Switzerland’s Paul Estermann, in 48th place. The OBOS Quality-sired 11-year-old mare is out of Furisto Clover Hill and jumped a double clear in the Italian Nations Cup, while also producing two clears in the early rounds of the Olympics.

The list was topped by Britain’s Nick Skelton and Big Star, followed by American Richard Spooner and Cristallo, and Olympic gold medallists Steve Guerdat with Nino des Buissonnets.

*An impressive panel has been assembled for an “open discussion” on the challenges facing breeders, producers and producers of show jumping horses.

The discussion, organised by Teagasc & Connolly’s Red Mills, will cover such areas as market requirements, mating plans, controlling costs, industry challenges, marketing, reproductive technologies and soundness.

The panel will include Clement McMahon, Jack Doyle, Greg Broderick, Barry O’Connor, course designer Tom Holden, breeder/producers Tiernan Gill and Peter Leonard, Andrew Hughes, Tim Brennan, along with Teagasc equine specialists and Connolly’s Red Mills Nutritionists.

The event takes place in the Hotel Kilkenny on Saturday, February 9. Registration is at 1.30pm and costs €10.

Meanwhile, Teagasc is also offering a distance learning “horse breeding and management course”, beginning on February 18.

All information will be provided to participants to self-study. Interaction with the course coordinator is accessible for the duration of eight weeks, while a visit to the Irish National Stud is included.

Further details can be had from Wendy Conlon at 087- 9879083 or [e-mail].