No purge, says Hanley, as Logan joins list of resignations
The latest to withdraw is national vice-chairman Ernie Logan, who tendered his resignation to the Ulster Region this week.
Mr Logan was defeated by Mr Hanley in a vote for the chairmanship last Thursday, when the latter was returned by a small margin for a third year.
Mr Logan had been vice-chairman and was persuaded to continue, but subsequently changed his mind and said yesterday: “I just did not want to commit myself to the executive for another three to four years. I’m on the wrong side of 70 and, on reflection, I decided it was time to get out.”
Mr Logan’s decision came after Brendan McArdle quit his position on the International Affairs Committee, which selects the senior team. He was followed by Galway’s Paul Duffy Jnr, who also quit as Connacht Region chairman and relinquished his seat on the national executive. Just before Christmas, Tommy Wade relinquished his International Affairs position, withdrawing his name when it came to a vote in Munster.
Yesterday, Mr Hanley said “different people have different reasons for going” and he was confident the executive would row in behind him this year. He also suggested the changes in the International Affairs Committee would smooth the path for the SJAI to regain its input into the senior team from the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI). “I was at the EFI executive meeting last Friday and I put the case forward that there had been a total revamp of the international affairs.”
While not in a position to name the new members at the time, he believed the moves would see the SJAI renewing its role in team selection.
This week Liam Buckley was put forward as the Leinster representative on the International Affairs Committee. He was selected after first choice Taylor Vard was named as the committee chairman, necessitating a Leinster replacement. Buckley’s name must be ratified next month by the SJAI executive. Munster is represented by James Tarrant. Ulster are expected to name their rep next week, while Connacht were due to decide last night.
The SJAI lost control of team selection last year when the EFI stepped in following the sacking of Olympic trainer Eddie Macken. The Vancouver-based show jumping legend is tipped to become the chef d’equipe this year, but a gun may be put to the EFI’s/SJAI’s head amid speculation he could be taking up a position with the Mexican team. He could not be contacted yesterday for comment.
CAMERON HANLEY notched up a hat-trick at the one-star show in Aarhus, last weekend.
On Friday, 31-year-old Hanley claimed the second class with Constella Z. He followed this with a double on Saturday, claiming victory in the Youngster Cup with the eight-year-old grey Celanus. His treble was completed when his fast clear round on Woutlands Pomery helped the Men’s No 1 team to triumph
In Sunday’s grand prix, the Mayo rider made it to the jump off with Qualdandro. However, the last fence proved his undoing, leaving him eighth in a competition won by Norway’s Geir Guilliksen, aboard Cortaflex Kristel.
THE Cork/Kerry Branch of the SJAI has tendered a proposal to the association’s executive to stage a national championships this year.
Branch chairman Pat Duggan said yesterday the championships - if ratified by the executive next month - would feature competitions for horses from age four to eight, along with a grand prix.
Millstreet will be the venue.
Mr Duggan said the name of the show did not put it at loggerheads with a proposal to revive the national championships in Salthill.
“Salthill has registered the title ‘national championships’ ... but they are quite happy to extend the use of the name,” he said, pointing out that the Galway event featured speed classes and a grand prix, while the Cork/Kerry branch proposal was more a “breeders’ championship” with young horse classes.
“This is the SJAI coming to grips with one of its requirements: that a national championships be held for its members, as happens in France, Sweden and Germany”, said Mr Duggan.
If a difficulty arose with the title, the Cork/Kerry branch would be open to compromise, he said.
Salthill organiser Paul Duffy Jnr said, that while he had not seen the Cork/Kerry plan, he could foresee no problem.
Mr Duggan said the Cork/Kerry branch were looking at a date some time in mid to late September, but this decision would be taken in consultation with Millstreet, which stages an indoor show in October.
The SJAI has received two other proposals to stage a national championships, but Mr Duggan said they were from private individuals.
“The Cork/Kerry branch proposal will see the SJAI run the championships itself,” he said.
A more detailed plan would be put to the executive in a few weeks, said the Killarney-based businessman.
