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Eddie Macken has withdrawn from the running to be manager of the Irish show jumping team, saying Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has “serious issues of deficiency to address before it puts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