All’s well up north, turmoil down south

AT opposite ends of this island in recent days, show jumping was seen in different guises.

In Belfast, nascent efforts were made to bring top-class sport to the public. On the southern coast, however, heated debate over the secretary’s position in the Cork/Kerry branch of the SJAI revealed the undesirable face of show jumping and, importantly, kept sport off the agenda.

The main point of contention at the branch AGM was whether former association chairman Tony Hurley could retain the post of branch secretary he has held for more than 20 years.