Business as usual for O’Connor as he gears up for Gold Tour
The embattled Olympic champion is to join an eight-strong group of his compatriots in Italy later this month in a series that is, ironically, titled the Gold Tour.
Yesterday, the show jumper said it was business as usual and he could not wait to get back into the arena.
"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 the ring," said O'Connor, who faces the Judicial Committee of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in Zurich on Easter Sunday, March 27, in the next round of his fight to retain his Olympic title.
He continues to maintain his innocence after his gold medal-winning mount Waterford Crystal tested positive at Athens, claiming that the banned anti-psychotic drugs fluphenazine and zuclopenthixol found in the gelding were given out of competition for legitimate purposes as prescribed by his vet.
Not all of the public are fans of O'Connor and this diversity is mirrored in the Irish travelling party. Among the group 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.
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 the 14-year-old Crystal, O'Connor has started preparatory work and says he is aiming to peak him in July. The European show jumping championships are scheduled for the same month.
"The great thing about this new Italian tour is that it is only on for three weeks. It is the ideal warm up for major international competitions," said the 25-year-old who is, obviously, not factoring in any possibility of failure or a suspension when his drugs saga concludes.
The Gold Tour, which takes place in Arezzo, Tuscany, will have three shows on: March 23-27, March 29-April 3 and April 5-10. When the full schedule of the shows are taken into account, O'Connor says the group of riders accompanying him will have a complement of horses numbering 26.
"This is a great opportunity for my clients to go abroad and for the likes of [Dublin rider] Dan Walsh to gain international experience," said O'Connor
Meanwhile, in between Italian outings, O'Connor will travel north for his Zurich hearing. It is anyone's guess if Easter Sunday will be resurrection day for him.
Irish show jumping party heading for Gold Tour, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy: Cian O'Connor, Dermott Lennon, Peter Charles, Harry Marshall, Shane Breen, Edward Doyle, David Quigley, Marie Burke.
