SJAI agree terms with chef d’equipe designate Splaine
However, he said the SJAI had acceded to a request by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) for it to view the contract before both parties signed it.
Hanley also said he is to take up the chairmanship of the association’s International Affairs Committee on an interim basis. This follows a meeting of the committee yesterday, during which it was decided to write to Taylor Vard, who resigned the chairman’s post last Friday.
Vard was not at the meeting, despite attempts to persuade him to do so. He refused to comment last evening and at that time he had not received any communication from the SJAI.
EFI secretary general Dan Butler, who has observer status on the committee, did not attend the meeting and neither did Corkman Splaine.
Describing yesterday’s meeting as “constructive”, Hanley said the long-drawn out contractual negotiations to appoint Splaine as chef d’equipe were complete to all intents and purposes. However, he said the SJAI would accede to the EFI’s request to view the contract prior to the parties signing it.
“The final draft is not drawn up yet, but the main issues are sorted. The contract is agreed and we are ready to sign now,” said Hanley. “The EFI has asked us not to sign, though, and we are happy to go along with that.”
He also said Vard had the option of withdrawing his resignation.
“I was put in as acting chairman, but the way is open to Taylor to come back, if he sees fit. We are going to write to him and inform him what happened at the meeting,” said Hanley.
“I will remain as chairman until Taylor returns, or, until the new committee is installed, which will be in January.
“However, we are going to urge Taylor to reconsider his resignation.”
Vard submitted his resignation last Friday, after he had walked out of a committee meeting the preceding day. It is believed a disagreement on the proposed selection process was central to this.
In addition, the solicitor for Splaine is said to have contacted a number of committee members regarding aspects of his contract, with Vard considering himself sidelined.
Splaine could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Present at yesterday meeting in the Ambassador Hotel, Kill, were SJAI regional representatives Eamonn Rice (Ulster), Paraic Geraghty (Connacht), Brian Gormley (Leinster) and James Tarrant (Munster). Hanley and SJAI vice chairperson Patricia Furlong were also in attendance, along with Showjumpers’ Club representative James Kernan and the SJAI’s John Lyttle.
* SHANE BREEN picked up the International Rider of the Year at the Showjumpers’ Club awards last Saturday night.
The Tipperary rider came out tops in a text poll that saw him pitted against Billy Twomey, Dermott Lennon and Jessica Kürten.
Breen scooped 1884 of the 3,501 votes, with Twomey second on approximately 1,400.
Breen was a member of nations cup squads in Aachen, Hickstead and Lummen, and, riding World Cruise, he also lined out in the Samsung Super League final in Barcelona.
Other winners on the night included Cian O’Connor, named the outdoor champion and Olive Clarke, the indoor champion. Paul Duffy Snr picked up the Hall of Fame accolade, with Billy Daly’s Newmarket Girl selected as the top horse of the year.
* SACKED SJAI director general Robert Joyce firmly believes he should have been given more time to do his job.
The Galway man will end his connections with the SJAI on December 9 after the SJAI national executive opted not extend his contract. He had served nine months of a probationary period.
A disappointed, Joyce said: “I felt I had made improvements to the SJAI. My brief was to make the association more efficient and cost effective. I improved on the budgetary position by over €60,000, through a number of ways. That was an extra €60,000 to put into the sport.”
Mr Joyce’s tenure was marked by discordance with the staff at the association’s head office in Kildare as he set about making changes. The SJAI is facing an unfair dismissal case following the outsourcing of its points system to SWS in West Cork.
“Maybe I was doing things too quickly, but the staffing issues were a long-standing problem and, no matter who was in the position, would have had to face up to them,” said Mr Joyce.
He also suggested he was flexible in terms of his future terms of employment.
“I suggested that if they had issues with a forever contract, I would could go on a three-year contract. I suggested they could get rid of me in year one, with a buyout clause,” he said.
“Show jumping has the potential to be a leading sport for the want of a structure that will work. I am very disappointed to be leaving. I had a number of plans.”
Mr Joyce said he expected to discuss a severance package with the SJAI, but chairman Charles Hanley rejected such suggestions.
* PONY measuring will take place at the Cork Showgrounds tomorrow, starting at 11am. All ponies must be presented in a bridle and owners are reminded that a pony will not be measured if the owner does not present a passport for the animal.
* SARAH KATE QUINLIVAN was the popular recipient of an award for outstanding achievement at the SJAI’s Cork/Kerry Branch awards last Saturday night.
The Kanturk rider narrowly missed out on winning the IJM TimberFrame Grand Prix League, following an outstanding year with Billy Daly’s Newmarket Girl. She also made her debut at senior nations cup level with similar success.
Daly’s mare also took the plaudit for the horse of the year.
The attendance of more than 280 at Rochestown Park Hotel also saw Maurice O’Connor pick up the award for top rider in open horse competitions, with Derry Kingston doing likewise for his performance in novice classes.
Meanwhile, the Cork Kerry Branch of the SJAI will hold its AGM next Thursday at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.
The only position to be contested on the night is that of vice-chairman, with Michael Hennessy challenging the incumbent Michael Costelloe.
Young Rider Awards, Rockcliffe Stud 1.20m 1. Eoin Ryan; 2. Eoin Ryan; 3. Andrew Hodgins.
Fuji 1.10m, 1. Chantal Kiely; 2. Claire Murphy; 3. Noreen Queally.
Pony Riders, Chloe Quinlivan, Gillian O’Meara, Sinead McCarthy.
Young Riders, Corinne Hyde, Sean Walsh, Ann-Marie Allen.
Award for outstanding achievement 2005 Sarah Kate Quinlivan on horse of the year Newmarket Girl, owned by Billy Daly.
128 Novice, Aine Murphy; 128 Open Lisa O’Connor; 138 Novice Tracy Howard; 138 Open Blayne Sheehan; 148 Novice, Nat. Roberts Allen; 148 Open Rachel Sheehan.
128 Novice Patrick Joyce; 128 Open Timmy Doyle; 138 Novice Orla Kelly; 138 Open Timmy Doyle; 148 Novice Gillian O’Meara; 148 Open Shane O’Reilly; Amateur Stephanie Cunningham; Novice Horse Derry Kingston; Open Horse Maurice O’Connor.
138CD, 1. Orla Kelly; 2. John Barry; 3. Eimear O’Connell.
148CD, 1. James Barry; 2. Gillian O’Meara; 3. Pat O’Sullivan.
