Macken understood to be new Irish chef d’equipe
However, when asked, the chairman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland’s International Affairs Committee would neither confirm nor deny this. Taylor Vard, speaking after a meeting of the committee, said the person chosen had yet to be ratified by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland.
Macken’s appointment was widely tipped. Robert Splaine and Tommy Wade were also vying for the post.
Yesterday afternoon, prior to the meeting, Mr Vard said they had opted to dispense with the interview process on the basis of familiarity with the three men.
“We know these guys for a long time and felt it would be a waste of time putting them through interviews,” he said.
Macken was at the centre of controversy last year, when he was hired as Olympic team trainer, fired and re-hired.
Meanwhile, the SJAI has appointed Galway man Robert Joyce as its new director general. His appointment comes after the SJAI agreed terms of employment. He will take up the post for a six-month probationary period.
The 36-year-old yesterday said his main task was to increase the association’s revenue-generating potential and make it a more professional outfit.
“My main thrust is to generate more funding to put into the sport. I want a maximum return for our investment. The SJAI is an organisation with over 7,000 members, who give their time freely. We need to make their job easier, by streamlining administration,” said Joyce.
He said it was too early to discuss his plans, saying he needed time to explore the workings of the association.
“I am looking at the what the SJAI is doing, how it does things and, based on that, I will come up with initiatives.”
Joyce has no background in show jumping, but he sees no problem in his dearth of equestrian knowledge.
“There is tremendous expertise in the organisation. We do not need another show jumping expert. My job will be to make sure the infrastructure is there to ensure the experts can do the job properly,” he said.
He had praise for SJAI General Manager John Lyttle and predicted a good working relationship between the two, but he said the issue of demarcation had yet to be discussed.
Engaging in management consultancy since last August, Mr Joyce was previously chief financial officer for his family’s company, Connemara Green Marble Quarries, followed by two years as group managing director.
On the issue of an auditors’ qualification for the company’s last financial returns, he said: “It concerned a valuation in the accounts on the marble reserves and it depended on the ability of the company to extract those reserves.
“But the valuation was for a period of over 20 years and this leads to potential for doubt.
“It was an emphasis of matter qualification, not a case of the accounts being true and fair,” he said.
The SJAI was due to appoint a chief executive officer and had selected Joyce a number of weeks ago. The delay in naming him occurred in negotiating the contract. SJAI Chairman Charles Hanley said they would refer to Joyce as the director general, reviving a position that had previously been in place.
“As the new director general, Robert will implement the ideas that the executive put forward. I feel he is a man of initiative and ideas. This appointment will lead to a more efficient service and make the association more cost-effective,” said the Mayo man.
He said Joyce - who was preceded in the position in previous years by Liz Pottie, Paddy Desmond and Tony Kelly - would work on getting more out of the association’s new computer system, including initiating on-line registration of animals.
Hanley also spoke of the prospect of regional offices.
The chairman said Joyce had the full support of the executive, but conceded that “anything that involves change leads to a certain amount of anxiety”.
Joyce has already got down to work and was in the Kildare headquarters of the association this week familiarising himself with the internal workings.
He will commute from his home in Recess, Co Galway, and will reside in Kildare from Monday to Friday.
It is thought his annual salary is less than €100,000, which includes bonuses.
NEAL FEARON made easy work of winning the grand prix at Vilamoura, Portugal, last Sunday.
Aboard Peanuts V, he had almost a second to spare over French star Edouard Couperie.
Fearon produced one of four double clears in a field of 48 starters and was joined by Jack Doyle in the seven-horse jump-off. Doyle, riding Owen II, finished seventh after knocking one fence. It was Fearon’s second win that day, also taking the 1.35m class with Wildcat Clover King.
On Friday, Peter Charles rode Rockstar to victory in a speed class.
KEVIN BABINGTON failed to register in the world cup qualifier in Florida last weekend and will be hoping to lead Ireland to success in the nations cup, which takes place in the early hours of tomorrow morning, Irish time. However, the Wellington venue has been beset by bad weather this week, leading to the cancellation of some competitions. Joining him on the team are Conor Swail, Jennifer Crooks and Darragh Kerins. Eddie Macken is chef d’equipe.
Meanwhile, Jessica Kürten renews her world cup campaign in Paris this weekend. Kürten has much to do, lying in 26th place on the Western European League with 23 points. The early 40s is spoken of as the qualification target and the German-based rider has three throws of the dice remaining, but will need to replicate her Bordeaux runner-up result to be in with a chance of a gamble in the Las Vegas finals next month.
CIAN O’CONNOR will dust off his passport this month as he makes his first competitive venture abroad since the Olympics.
The Athens show jumping champion is one of eight riders travelling to Arezzo, Italy, to take part in what is termed, ironically, the Gold Tour.
The 25-year-old is upbeat about the trip: “In the winter, I look forward to the break from international travel and the rest is good for the longevity of the horses. It allows me to regroup and, at the end of the season, you are looking forward to the break. But, when spring comes around, you are itching to get back in saddle. Competition is what it’s all about. It keeps me going and it’s fantastic to get back in ring,” said O’Connor, who continues to maintain his innocence after Waterford Crystal tested positive at Athens.
Among the travelling party is Hampshire-based double European Champion Peter Charles, an outspoken critic of the rider.
But the Athens gold medallist is sanguine and says his only concern is rising to the challenge of the fences.
“I have no problem riding with anybody and, if anybody has a difficulty with me, that is a matter for them. I’m only interested in doing my talking in the ring,” he said.
The Italian venture will feature three shows on: March 23-27, March 29-April 3 and April 5-10 and will also have Bronze and Silver Tours.
O’Connor will campaign three horses in Italy, among them ABC Landliebe, who tested positive for drugs at the nations cup show in Rome last year. As for Waterford Crystal, he has started preparatory work and O’Connor says he is aiming to peak him in July.
In between shows, O’Connor will travel north from Italy for his hearing before the Federation Equestre Internationale Judicial Committee. The Meath-based rider continues to maintain his innocence, claiming the banned substances found in Waterford Crystal were given out of competition for legitimate purposes, as prescribed by his vet. Scheduled for Easter Sunday, March 27, It is anyone’s guess if it will be resurrection day for him.
Irish riders competing in Italian Gold Tour: Cian O’Connor, Dermott Lennon, Peter Charles, Harry Marshall, Shane Breen, Edward Doyle, David Quigley, Marie Burke.
KEVIN BABINGTON has been named as The Irish Field show jumper of the year for 2004. The 36-year-old kicked off with back-to-back grand prix wins in Wellington, Florida, in February with Carling King. His hat-trick came in March with victory in the $100,000 Cosequin Open Jumper Championships and then took the grand prix in La Baule, France. The Irish Field senior event rider is Mark Kyle. Anna Merveldt-Steffens took the dressage award.
