All’s well up north, turmoil down south
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.
Such was the entrenched position of members concerning the validity of the Mr Hurley to continue in the position that, after two hours of heated debate, it was decided to put the issue aside in the interests of electing a chairman, vice-chairman and committee at the meeting in Macroom.
Amazingly, the issue harks back to the same meeting last year. A motion put by challenger for the position, Mary O’Riordan-Dineen, that branch officers only hold a position for a maximum of four consecutive years, following which they would be barred from holding the same position for a minimum of two years, was passed at the 2002 AGM. However, it was only ratified by the national executive two days before last week’s AGM.
Outgoing branch chairman John Hannan said the executive had sought legal advice before ratifying the motion, which, he said, barred Mr Hurley from seeking another term.
Mr Hurley, a well-know course designer, however, rejected this contention claiming:
that he had only 24 hours notice that he could not run for the post
that, since the nominations for the position had already closed when the national executive had ratified the motion, the ruling did not apply
that the motion did not apply retrospectively. The issue was put aside, however, when Noel C Duggan strode to the top of the room, saying the “argument will split the branch”
Yesterday, Mr Hurley said: “John Hannan and Pat Duggan, as members of the national executive, were mandated by the members to take this motion to be ratified. Taking into view that the executive meet every month, it does seem rather strange to me that this was not done for almost 12 months. It was ratified five days after my nomination was accepted and two days before the 2003 branch AGM. It is quite clear that we would not now be in the situation that we find ourselves in, if this was carried out during the year.”
Asked why, after decades in the position, he still harboured a yearning to be secretary, Mr Hurley said: “A child would lead Tony Hurley, but it would take a horse to push me. Natural justice is far more important to me than contesting any election.”
Yesterday, Mrs O’Riordan-Dineen said: “The rules of the association need to be upheld and I am confident they will be.”
Much hope that the issue will be resolved hinges on the new branch chairman Pat Duggan.
Commenting that “change is good thing”, Mr Duggan, a member of the national executive and of the influential management and finance committee said: “An officer should surrender his position after a specified period of time, agreed by the committee. The old guard are slow to go, but rules are rules. I won’t go on as chairman for three years, I can tell you that. I will lead by example.”
He said he would endeavour to achieve compromise. “I'll be strictly guided by the articles of the constitution and direction of headquarters. I’ll comply with the national executive ruling, but I’ll be seeking clarification of it. I will have to get legal opinion in writing. My foremost endeavour is to seek reconciliation and unity.”
The branch committee held its first meeting last Wednesday night in Macroom, but Mr Duggan said the issue of secretary was “not on the agenda, and we had a harmonious meeting.”
The stalled efforts to set up an umbrella body for equestrianism were also aired at the AGM. Mr Duggan said the SJAI, Eventing Ireland, Dressage Ireland, the RDS and the Irish Horse Board backed the Government nominee for the umbrella body’s interim chairman, Michael Dowling. He said the association would strive to have the issue taken off the back burner.
Declan Cunningham was unopposed for the Cork/Kerry Branch vice-chairman’s post.
A 14-person committee was named, with Mr Hurley or Mrs O’Riordan-Dineen dropping out when appointed secretary: Elaine Leahy-Hartnett, Michael Costello, James Tarrant, Tom Counihan, Donal O’Meara, Mary O'Riordan-Dineen, John Hannan, Michael Hennessy, Kate Horgan, Tony Hurley, Sean Kelly, Gene O'Brien, Shirley Clifford and Wayne Santry. The first five, along with Pat Duggan and treasurer Ted Gibney, will represent the branch at Munster Region level. The Munster Region committee will hold its AGM on December 10.
Looking northwards, the Belfast International Horse Show was generally felt to be a success, Robert Smith epitomising this when taking the show’s leading rider award. Four wins and five runner-up slots ensured he drove away with a 40,000 Mercedes coupé. While the Briton was untouchable in his dominance of the show, he had to give way to compatriot Andrew Davies in the 115,000 Envirocare Grand Prix.
Smith was one of nine to make the jump-off, but in his effort to top the time of 34.09 seconds set by Nick Skelton (Arko II), he had a fence down and had to settle for fifth. Davies was next in and slashed Skelton’s target, crossing the line in 31.50 seconds with Limbo V. Only third-placed Daniel Etter (Hermine Imperiale) and Cian O’Connor (Waterford Crystal) could replicate the faultless performance, but each was shy of the target.
Irish riders, while not in winning mode, did not go down without fighting at the show. Harry Marshall, riding XL, and Conor Swail (Conduct) were two of six riders to share second place in Saturday’s Puissance, won by Frenchman Robert Breul (Farceur De Haul). Peter Smyth (Zara’s Pride) placed second in a speed class on the same day. Peter Charles (It’s Magic Max) was one of five Irish in the top 10 in Saturday’s 1.55m Horseware Classic, when he placed third.
Friday saw Marion Hughes, aboard stallion Heritage Fortunus, denied victory by Robert Smith (Marius Claudius) in the 1.50m jump-off competition, with Clem McMahon third on Gelvin Clover. Hughes was also in the line-up earlier in the day, when fourth on O Jessie.
A delighted event director Theresa McKenna said the show would take place next year on December 2-5, saying they had plans for national competition.
“We want to be bigger and better next year. We have a number of new ideas planned. There will still be lots of theatre, but we will try to bring some national sport into day-time slot, ie regional qualifiers,” she said.
She conceded they show was not likely to break even, as she had hoped, citing flooding in the stable area as a major blow to finances. She also said attendances were good, but she had expected better. “We had over 25,000 over the four days. That’s not so bad for a first show, but we hoped for bigger walkup. Talk beforehand about whether the show would happen, definitely affected ticket sales. PONY measuring will take place at the Cork Show Grounds on December 13.
