O’Connor dispute not ‘helping’ the sport

INTERNATIONAL show jumper Billy Twomey yesterday said Cian O’Connor deserved the right to due process but admitted the controversy was tainting the sport on an international level.

Asked if it was doing irreparable damage to Irish showjumping, he said: “I don’t think it’s helping. For instance, if sponsors were considering a national league, they definitely are going to back off.

“Everyone here in the sport is talking about it too,” said the Cheshire-based rider. “But it’s not just in Ireland and England, the Olympics is of world-wide interest and this brings negative attention to the sport,” said Twomey, who jumped one of only three double clears to help Ireland claim the Aga Khan trophy this year, but was denied his ticket to Athens by injury to his mount Luidam.