EQUESTRIAN: Fuming Macken out of running

Eddie Macken has withdrawn from the running to be manager of the Irish show jumping team, saying Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has “serious issues of deficiency to address before it puts winning teams into international competition”.

In an open letter outlining his tribulations with the interview process, Macken said: “I wish to place on public record my utter frustration in trying to cope with the manner in which HSI conduct their business which has effectively forced me out of the selection process.”

The Canada-based Longford rider claimed he received only two days’ notice of his interview and, due to previous commitments, had to undertake his interview by conference call on Jan 9. He was among four selected to go forward for a second round of interviews, which he was told, “would take place within a week or 10 days”, but will not now, “take place until February 9-11”, which, again, he could not attend.

HSI responded yesterday, saying that throughout the process it had tried to accommodate Macken. In relation to the follow-up interview, it said: “At no stage did Eddie propose any other date nor did he advise that he had any personal time deadline for continuing in the process.”

Regarding Macken’s comments about HSI, they pointed out “that in the Olympic cycle 2005-2008, Ireland won five championship medals. Horse Sport Ireland became the governing body in 2008 and Ireland won 25 championship medals in the Olympic cycle 2009-2012”.

Robert Splaine, who is seeking another term as manager and is one of three remaining candidates for the job, said it was a pity Irish equestrian sport was again proving controversial.

“After the most successful year in the history of Irish show jumping and having made the news for all the right reasons, it saddens me now to see our sport in the news again for the wrong reasons,” said the Corkman.

HSI also yesterday named Briton Nick Turner as the new Irish eventing high performance coach, replacing his compatriot Ginny Elliot.

Meanwhile, HSI are the subject of a complaint to the European Commission filed by the Irish Warmblood Studbook. HSI are accused of taking action to keep their application for a new studbook for eventing horses from being approved. HSI declined to officially comment.