First tentative step on the road to recovery
Any hopes of this heralding a return to the good times were tempered by the knowledge among all gathered in the President’s Room at the RDS that a lot of work has to be done to repair the damage done to Irish show jumping.
This is only the first step.
A crucial element in making the progress was the signing by Robert Splaine of his contract as team manager. Splaine had put his name to the document just prior to the presentation, having flown in from Arezzo, Italy, where he was competing.
He focussed on the retention of our Samsung Super League status as his main goal, along with “presenting a well-prepared team for the World Equestrian Games” in Aachen. Fifth place is the goal, thus earning qualification for the Beijing Olympics.
He also stressed that he wants to put out the best possible team at Dublin Horse Show.
It is notable that Splaine has set realistic goals. He did not indulge in hyperbole. But then, as anyone who knows him would agree, did he ever?
Splaine was joined at the top table by jumping committee chairman Commandant John Ledingham, who presented the newly-revealed committee advisors Tommy Brennan and James Kernan.
Cmdt Ledingham, in a show of unity following weeks of uncertainty, had joined Splaine in Arezzo to meet the many Irish riders there.
Both agreed that the mood in the camp was good.
As for any possibility of a conflict of interest for those on the committee - for example James Kernan’s sister Shirley owns team contender All Shook Up, ridden by Harry Marshall - Cmdt Ledingham said that if such a situation arises, “that person will be asked to step outside while a decision is made”.
A notable presence last Monday, in what can only be seen as a show of strength by the EFI, were Irish Sports Council president Ossie Kilkenny and ISC chief executive John Treacy.
In a demonstration of the council’s support for EFI secretary general Dan Butler and EFI president Charles Powell, Mr Kilkenny welcomed the “refabrication of the sport”. He said Butler, Powell and Treacy had made difficult decisions in the past month and he urged that factional fighting in the sport be ended.
Also present was SJAI chairperson Patricia Furlong. Undoubtedly, elements of the SJAI will feel disenfranchised by the EFI’s exercising of its control over international affairs. But, many agree it is time for the association to take stock of itself and its role.
This is particularly so with the umbrella body in the offing. With the SJAI no longer directly involved in the international arena, there is evidence among other organisations of a need for a reassessment of the SJAI’s representation at executive level in the new body.
Another cloud on the horizon is the issue of funding, with the EFI withholding ISC grants from the SJAI and the latter opting to spend its international budget on domestic sport. It all points to a few stormy months ahead.
Hopefully, it will not affect the affairs inside the jumping arena.
Meanwhile, the SJAI executive is to decide at its April 25 meeting how to spend the money derived as a percentage of prizefunds from national competitions. The funding previously went to assisting international participation. However, with the SJAI no longer involved in this area, it has been decided to ringfence the money and spend it on the development of the sport at a domestic level.
Also revealed on Monday was the long list for the Samsung Super League opener at La Baule, France (May 4-7). Among the names is Peter Charles, who is believed to have a number of new horses. The others are: Shane Breen, Capt Shane Carey, Harry Marshall, Conor Swail, Cian O’Connor, Denis Lynch, Marie Burke and Edward Doyle.
The long-list for the nations cup competition at Copenhagen, Denmark (May 11-14) is: Capt David O’Brien, Comdt Gerry Flynn, Cian O’Connor, Edward Doyle, Ryan Crumley, Cameron Hanley, John Hickey, Denis Lynch.
* TREVOR COYLE notched up a double at the three-star show in Lummen, Belgium, last weekend. The Northerner rode the 11-year-old grey gelding Overtime GMS to victory in Saturday’s 1.45m speed contest and finished tops on the 10-year-old Joy’s Mouche in the 1.35m equivalent.
Jessica Kürten was low key until the finals, however, claiming Sunday’s 1.35m speed class final on Lou Lou, having already claimed the top prize in the 1.25m speed final on the mare La Vie. The world number two also finished third on the eight-year-old gelding Gucci Ashenti in the 1.30m speed final. She also shared first place with Cosma Chiva in a competition for six-year-olds.
Denis Lynch, riding Cezanne, was four-tenths of a second adrift when runner-up in a 1.30m class. He also finished third on Lancelot in a 1.40m speed contest.
Harry Marshall and Peter Smyth kept the Irish flag flying at Arezzo, winning with Swift on the gold tour and Ryeland’s Sea Master on the silver tour respectively.
At the British Open Championships in Sheffield, England, Billy Twomey jumped Anastasia III to third place.
* THE new committees to manage the international participation of show jumpers at pony and junior and young rider level were ratified by the EFI on Wednesday.
The committees were drawn up following the decision of the SJAI to mandate control to the EFI. The pony committee is unchanged from that which undertook the task for the SJAI, but only Vina Buller remains on from the SJAI committee that managed junior and young riders.
The committees are:
Junior and young riders - Chairperson: Vina Buller, Liam Buckley, Sheila White, Taylor Vard, Trainer: Comdt. John Ledingham, Assistant trainer/chef d’equipe Trevor Coyle.
Pony Committee - Chairperson: Coreen Conway, Kathleen O’Hagan, Walter Reape, Jim Butler, Donal O’Meara, Trainer: Ian Fearon.
* EDDIE MACKEN showed he has lost none of the skills that made him one of the world’s best riders when winning the $35,000 Oaks Blenheim EquiSport Grand Prix in California last weekend.
Canada-based Macken was aboard Tedechine Sept, a 10-year-old Belgian-bred mare that Macken was quoted as saying “is good enough to go far”.
“She has a lot of possibilities and I really look forward to seeing how she does in Spruce Meadows and then in Europe,” said the Longford man of the horse he only started riding in January.
It begs the question: will we see Macken on a nations cup team again?
Macken was one of seven to make the jump-off from a starting line-up of 40.
Richard Spooner, one of the American riders at the forthcoming World Cup finals, set what seemed to be an unbeatable time of 41.33 seconds.
The following five riders failed to make an impression and it wasn’t until Macken, last to go, entered the arena that Spooner was denied, with the Irishman crossing the finish line in 39.78 seconds.
* EASTER madness will be evident again at the Cork/Kerry Region Spring League at Millstreet, with the a creme egg on offer for every entry and easter eggs prizes for every competition.
The league finals will take place tomorrow week, with a prizefund of over €3,500. The much-anticipated launch of the national pony grand prix league begins in the on the same day. The six-round league boasts a total prizefund of €10,000. Enquiries: 087/4125633.
* CAPTAIN David O’Brien is certain to come out all guns firing when he bids to win the Guidam Spring League tomorrow.
With 28 points, the Army rider and his top mount Kilteely hold a four-point lead on Eddie Moloney, riding Chatsworth Dan.
No doubt, Moloney will try to overhaul Capt O’Brien’s lead in the final round, which takes place at the Boswell Equestrian Centre, beginning at 2pm
Andrew Bourns, riding Caprice, with 18 points has an outside chance, but would need a collapse from Capt O’Brien and Moloney to have any chance of winning.
Meanwhile, Tom Rowland, of Knightfield Equestrian and owner of the stallion Guidam, has opted to extend his sponsorship of the league for a third year.
Darragh Equestrian Solutions and Royston Products are to also to continue to support the league.
* WITH polo now an official pony club discipline, the United Hunt pony club in Cork are holding an introduction to the sport on April 19.
Instructors are travelling from the Moyne Valley Polo Club to help clubs get started with the sport. Paid up pony club members can avail of the service. It is thought that, as the age for pony club members has been extended to 23, the initiative might encourage older members to return to the clubs. Further information: 087-2523460. Places are limited so booking is essential.
