Olympic green light for reduced eventing format
An internal IOC report had recommended dropping the sport, citing, in particular, the cost factor and the amount of land required. However, the FEI countered with a suggestion that Olympic eventing be run in line with the present CIC World Cup formula.
The new format will be introduced in 2004 at Athens and then Beijing in 2008. It will include two days of dressage, followed by a shorter cross-country phase (no road and track and no steeplechase) and a show jumping test, with the best 25 riders progressing to a second round to decide the individual medals.
For the purists, the reduced format is anathema to the ideals of the sport, which prides itself on being a supreme test of a horse/rider's ability and, crucially, courage.
But the cloud over the sport as an Olympic discipline remains, with the IOC executive forming a new commission to review all sports on the Olympic programme. The commission will include representatives of the international Olympic federations and will perform the review on the basis of a newly established list of criteria.
Eventing Ireland chairman John Swanton said eventing had no option but to compromise to save the sport. He said the writing was on the wall, with Athens encountering difficulties finding the space to stage the original format. Mr Swanton added that, as both Athens and Beijing were not traditional eventing countries, they would have had no indigenous base from which to source personnel to marshall the longer tracks. As such, they would have had to import staff at a big cost."
Irish horses and riders generally excel in the cross-country phase and Mr Swanton agreed Athens and Beijing would require a rethink in terms of this country's preparations.
"The new format will not be of benefit to us, so we will have to start gearing for the new demands."
"Countries, like the US, Australia, Britain and Ireland all have a good record in the cross-country phase. This move will suit the mid-Europeans, with dressage playing a more important part," he said.
THE European Broadcasting Union is to offer the eight events in the 2003 Samsung Super League for distribution. It is a big boost for the league, which includes the Kerrygold Horse Show.
After each event a three-minute news item will also be available.
RTÉ Sports News are said to be interested in taking the transmissions, depending on the availability of time, but would only show snippets of between 20 to 30 seconds. A decision has yet to be taken on live coverage, but the national station should give tangible acknowledgement of its commitment to the sport, considering Ireland are the current European show jumping champions and also boast a world champion in Dermott Lennon.
ARMY riders Capt Gerry Flynn and Lt Shane Carey placed third and fifth respectively in the grand prix at Vilamoura, Portugal, last Sunday.
Capt Flynn was aboard the nine-year-old Cavalier mare Bornacoola when jumping clear 45.25 seconds, five seconds off the pace set by Belgium's Jean Claude Vangeenberghe (Coronation 2).
Lt Carey and the 11-year-old Master Imp gelding Ballycumber, bred by John Brennan, Coon West, Carlow, finished in 41.55 seconds, but at a cost of four faults.
On Saturday, Marion Hughes rode Heritage Transmission to third place in a 1.35m class, with Lt Carey and Ballycumber three places further back.
Hughes also placed fourth with the same horse on Friday, while Louise Walsh, aboard Impact, finished seventh when clear in a speed class with 23 starters.
KEDRAH HOUSE STUD, Co Tipperary, has purchased the world-class sport horse stallion Lux Z.
The deal was concluded by vet Tom Meagher of Kedrah House and his cousin Maurice Cousins, Barnadown Stud, Gorey, Co Wexford.
Mr Meagher would not discount reports that the horse cost 1m. He said Lux Z would stand at Kedrah House, joining the stallions Ricardo Z, Courage, Sirocco Rouge and Chacoa,
Lux Z is a 16.2hh 1998 bay stallion by Lord Calando, out of Apocalypte Z by Ahorn Z.
He is approved by the KWPN (Dutch), Zangersheide, Hanovarian and Holstein studbooks and stood latterly at the Zangersheide Stud.
Lux Z and Italian Jerry Smit became only the second combination in history to win two Pulsar Crown competitions in a row (Valkenswaard and Cannes), netting $800,000, to give earnings of over $1m alone for 2000 .
For the last six years, he has covered no less than 500 mares annually and Mr Meagher expects him to retain his international popularity, while attracting a large number of Irish mares.
His stud fee is 1,600.
THE prospect of war in Iraq has caused the FEI to cancel its 2003 General Assembly scheduled for Bahrain at the end of April.
THE Killeady Hunt will hold their hunter trials on March 17, with a class for the young and not so young who are new to cross-country. It begins at 10am. The main course comes into play at 11am, with training, novice and open contests for horses, ponies and pair. Enquiries: 021/4885154.
The SJAI this week named the four riders from the Munster Region to receive bursaries aimed at helping them improve their skills. Thomas O'Gorman (Cork/Kerry), Eoin Ryan (Limerick/Clare), Jenny Lawlor (Waterford/Tipperary) and Claire Morris (Waterford/Tipperary) are to receive 600 each to spend on tuition with a trainer of their choice.
MORNINGSIDE STUD in Co Clare is offering a 33% discount on stud fees for two top-class stallions. If paid before April 1, breeders can avail of either Ekstein and Condios for 1,000. On or after April 1, the fee will be 1,500.
Morningside boasts quoting the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses that as of November 2002, Ekstein had more grand prix show jumpers competing than any other sire in Ireland.
