SJAI reverse decision on branch secretary motion
The motion was originally passed by the national executive last November, days before a fractious branch AGM, during which there was heated debate as to the eligibility of sitting secretary, Tony Hurley, to go forward for the position.
However, last Tuesday the national executive decided the motion, which applied only to Cork/Kerry, was not consistent with the rules of the association and, accordingly, they reversed their decision.
The motion stated: “That the officers of the Cork/Kerry branch, they being the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer and PRO, shall be elected to the office for a one-year term and shall be eligible for re-election to that office on three further consecutive years (four years in total). They shall only then be eligible for re-election to that office after a lapse of two years following tenure.”
Mr Hurley was being challenged for the secretary’s post by Mary O’Riordan-Dineen.
Yesterday, national chairman Charles Hanley said Mr Hurley, who has held the secretary’s post for over 20 years, was within his rights to put his name forward.
“It means he is a valid nomination as far as we’re concerned, as is the nomination of Mary Dineen.
“It means an AGM must be reconvened to elect a secretary,” said the Mayoman.
Mr Hanley added: The SJAI solicitor Michael O’Sullivan was at Tuesday’s meeting. We must stick to company law and only the chairman and vice chairman must stand down after three years.”
However, Cork/Kerry Branch chairman Pat Duggan said the ruling was “of no consequence whatsoever and no bearing on the situation”. He would not expand on this, but added: “I deal with facts ... and, out of respect for my [branch] colleagues, I cannot comment further.”
Mr Hurley said he would go forward for the secretary’s post, if/when an AGM is reconvened.
Ms O’Riordan-Dineen said she could not comment, as she was not fully informed of the facts yet.
This latest development is sure to top the agenda when the Cork/Kerry Branch committee meet next Thursday.
Meanwhile, Mr Hanley also revealed that the SJAI were in the process of drawing up a strategic plan.
“To achieve continuity we are putting in place a four/five-year plan. Business consultant Deirdre McDonnell, a member of the SJAI from Naas, made a presentation to the executive last Tuesday. Ms McDonnell will head up a think tank and we hope to attract people from outside executive and regional committee level. It is being done on a professional basis, but will not cost a lot of money. We have a deadline of March 12, prior to which the top will be discussed at regional level,” he said.
He also said the list of contenders for the national PR position had been whittled down to five, from an original application of 17 and further interviews were being arranged.
THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) is advocating that the appointment of a chairman for the implementation group for the an umbrella body for equestrianism be deferred until after the Olympics.
The new chairman of Eventing Ireland, Joe Savage, yesterday said he was dismayed to hear the suggestion aired at the EFI executive meeting earlier this month, adding that the setting up of Horse Sport Ireland was long overdue.
“I am very disappointed that the issue has not gone further. There was a suggestion from the EFI to its affiliates that we put if off until after the Olympics and then seriously address the implementation body.
“But, it is my personal opinion that we cannot use the Olympics as a reason to put this off and we should still work at bringing this to a conclusion. If we put if off until next year, something else will emerge,” said the Corkman. The current log-jam in the process centres on the Government nomination to head up an implementation group to devise structures for the umbrella body. Michael Dowling was put forward by Sports Minister John O’Donoghue and Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh as the most suitable candidate. However, the EFI has questioned his independence due to his past association with the Department of Agriculture as its secretary.
Yesterday, Mr Savage reiterated Eventing Ireland’s backing for Mr Dowling. “We do not want anything to get in the way of preparing for the Olympics, but I think the issue of Horse Sport Ireland should be progressed in tandem and I believe that, with a lot of work on everyone’s part this can be achieved.”
The EFI agreed it had suggested the appointment of a chairman of the implementation group be deferred.
“The Irish Sports Council had advised us that we should not be distracted in our preparations for the Olympics at this time. The EFI believes this is the best course and our focus should be on winning a medal at Athens,” said a spokesperson.
NORMAL service was resumed for Marion Hughes last weekend, when she placed second in the e10,000 Vilamoura Grand Prix in Portugal.
The Kilkenny woman, aboard LB Galileo, was just under quarter of a second slower than France’s Olivier Guillon (Baladine du Mesnil) in the feature class, which saw Glen Leddy and Goldfinger finish fourth, three seconds adrift of his compatriot.
Hughes was first to go in the jump-off and looked on course for revenge over Guillon and Baladine, who had relegated the Irish to the runner-up spot in a two-phase contest the previous day. However, the highly-experienced French pairing again proved Hughes’ nemesis, after just five of 45 starters made it to the jump-off.
“A lot of horses had difficulty with the course; there were some cricket scores out there,” said Leddy, who was understandably delighted with his performance in the grand prix.
Hughes performance showed her disappointing display at Vigo the previous weekend was just a minor aberration and she also rode Oh Jessie and Heritage Spirit to third and fifth respectively in a jump-off class on Sunday.
