US-based riders get the chance to impress Splaine in Florida
Corkman Splaine sends out a team with one rider making his first senior nations cup appearance and four horse doing likewise. The pathfinder is Darragh Kenny (Picolo), followed by debutant Lorcan Gallagher (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve), Babington (Shorapur) and Conor Swail (Grafton). Gallagher, from Newry, Co Down, spent a number of years with former World Champion Dermott Lennon, but is now based with US-based Shane Sweetnam.
Ireland are drawn first of the six-team contest, but are not chasing Furusiyya points. Three countries are, the home nation, Canada, and Mexico, the other two being Venezuela and Colombia.
Splaine hedged his bets, considering the relative inexperience of the team’s mounts.
“This is not a Furusiyya qualifier for us, as it’s outside our region. However, it is for the other teams and the USA and Canada have named their top guns, so it’s going to be a tough contest. For the USA, it is very much a matter of national pride.”
He agreed it provides an opportunity to cast a rule over what the US-based riders can offer ahead of this year’s European Championships, Ireland’s last chance to qualify for the Rio Olympics, while in terms of horsepower, he said “I’m always looking to broaden our base”.
“It is a typical strategy at this time year. There are a lot of US-based riders and this affords me an extra opportunity to see how they perform in a high-class team situation.
“All the horses have never competed in a nations cup so, in the bigger scheme and looking to build for the future, there should be a lot to learn from Friday’s competition.”
Curiously, today’s nations cup is the first of two in Florida in the space of a fortnight. It was booked for the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington in early March, but a sponsorship conflict saw it moved to the HITS (Horse Shows In The Sun) venue in Ocala.
FEI has a long-standing arrangement with watchmaker Longines, but previously allowed WEF to run the competition with just the Furusiyya title, due to organiser, Equestrian Sports Production, being associated with Longines’ rival Rolex. That arrangement ended this year.
However, WEF will stage a $100,000 nations cup on Feb 27.
lHorse Sport Ireland this week secured a rise of almost 10% in its high-performance funding to €550,000. It brings the total HP funding allocated by the Irish Sports Council for the three Olympic-cycle years to date to €1.585m. Last year’s figure was €510,000, while the previous year it was €525,000.
This year’s allocation, however, includes €29,215 from an extra €1m in support announced in December by Sports Minister Michael Ring for Olympic qualification and preparation.
HSI chairman Pat Wall welcomed the increase, while expressing relief that it was not the opposite.
“I’m delighted we saw an increase an and not a cut. Particularly with the challenge of qualifying the show jumpers for Rio, along with preparing the eventers to ensure they have a realistic medal chance.
The Irish eventing team qualified for the Olympics at last year’s World Equestrian Games and Wall said: “The eventers are working with the Irish Institute of Sport. We are lucky that its resources are at our disposal. It helps them prepare physically, through fitness and nutrition, plus sports psychology.
“But getting to Rio was only the start. The challenge will be to get something out of it. When you are sending horses all the way to South America, you have got to go to compete and get a result. I believe the riders are buying into the regime at the institute. They are determined.”
Of the €10.85m in core funding invested this year by the Sports Council among 59 governing bodies, HSI will receive €773,191, the same as last year.
While the €8,000 it received last year under the ‘women in sport’ programme was absent in the Sports Council’s announcement on Wednesday, HSI picked up €75,000 for sports equipment.
Regarding high performance, Wall could not help but lavish praise on Bertram Allen, the 19-year-old Wexford rider who has been hogging the limelight of late, including last weekend winning his second World Cup qualifier in only six attempts.
“Bertram is putting our sport up in lights. He’s a phenomenal ambassador. Seven years ago he was winning the 12.2hh in Dublin and now he’s top of the world. he’s fired up a lot of young people. He’s demonstrated we can take on and beat the best.
“The high-performance money will help support and guide the rising stars of the sport to emulate Allen.”
lApplications are being sought by HSI for “new innovative classes/competitions at new or existing shows/events” to be funded by monies allocated by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney for promotion and marketing activities.
It is anticipated that the classes/competitions will be limited to horses/ponies registered in an approved studbook.
A maximum amount of €20,000 will be provided for any one project or class, which must be compatible with the recommendations of the new Industry Strategic Plan ‘Reaching New Heights’ (A draft copy can be found at: http://exa.mn/jog).
Other criteria include “the likelihood the class/competition will be able to sustain itself in future without funding from HSI”, plus the level of innovation in the proposal and the level of other funding/sponsorship secured by the applicant.
Meanwhile, HSI is seeking an international marketing director to establish and lead its “new international marketing division”.
lThe HSI/Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour returns this weekend, but Daniel Coyle is unlikely to retain the crown he has worn for the last three years following his partnership with Linzi Johnston’s Uptown Girl.
This is due to international commitments that will see the young Derry rider miss a number of legs, opening the door for a new champion.
It is the second year that Horse Sport Ireland has joined the Kilkenny-based Connolly’s Red Mills in sponsoring the tour, which has 17 legs and €42,500 in prize money, with an additional €2,000 for the champion.
Sunday’s opener is at Kildare International Equestrian Centre, concluding with the final at Coilog Equestrian Centre in Kildare on April 19.
Tour organisers The Showjumpers Club also announced the addition of a “Pro-Am” section in this year’s tour, allowing non-professional riders to compete in a league of their own.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
