HSI hopeful Going Global Olympic ownership issue ‘resolved’
The Tipperary rider and the gelding were the surprise choice of Ireland manager Robert Splaine to fill Ireland’s sole show jumping slot in the Olympics, but in the days leading up to the publication last Tuesday of the nominated entries by the FEI, speculation arose as to whether the gelding satisfied the rule that the owner must be “of the same nationality” as the rider.
HSI chairman Pat Wall said yesterday evening by email: “It is my understanding that the FEI have received the information from HSI clarifying their query and hopefully the matter is now resolved.”
Until recently, Canadian Lee Kruger of Caledonia Stables was spoken of as the owner, but she is now reportedly saying Broderick owns 10% of the horse, while the Tipperary rider is also now maintaining he is a part-owner.
Earlier yesterday, HSI reiterated there was no reason why MHS Going Global could not compete at the Games, issuing the following statement upon request:
“Following the submission of the nominated entries a query has been received from the FEI seeking further back-up information in relation to the ownership arrangements of MHS Going Global the horse Greg Broderick has been nominated with for the games. We will be responding to the query in the coming days.
“Horse Sport Ireland has received no formal complaint from any party in relation to this matter nor has any evidence been supplied to us to suggest that the horse does not meet the requirements.
“Horse Sport Ireland take our responsibilities in relation to the eligibility of horses very seriously.
“However, based on the evidence currently available to us we are satisfied that MHS Going Global is eligible to compete for Ireland at the Olympic Games in Rio.”
Unfortunately, in a follow-up call, HSI declined to say how it could back up its assertion.
When publishing the nominated entries on Tuesday the FEI pointed out that national federations “are responsible to ensure that horses which do not meet ownership requirements as laid down by FEI, are not entered for the equestrian events at the Olympic Games”.
Yesterday, a spokesperson reiterated: “It is the responsibility of the national federation to enter the owner information correctly on the FEI database by the deadline of 15 January 2016 and the individual national federation takes responsibility for the information they enter.”
According to the FEI website, MHS Going Global is owned by Caledonia Stables since 2012, with the Canadian-based entity referenced as being Irish.
In effect, HSI could claim the FEI had accepted that the ownership of the horse was Irish; ergo, there is no issue, but the FEI maintains that HSI is responsible for verifying this information.
Meanwhile, this week, the publication Horse Canada said that in an interview Lee Kruger had “confirmed that she does not have an Irish-based company”. It maintained, however, “that according to her records Broderick owns 10% of all her horses, including MHS Going Global, but she was not certain whether that ownership was registered with the FEI”.
On a personal level, one has to appreciate how upsetting this must be for Broderick, his family, and Lee Kruger. At a time when they should be celebrating the prospect of the 31-year-old living his dream, they must contend with doubts as to his participation.
On a broader level, this issue has to some extent also moved from being about Ireland’s Olympic show jumping selection to a question of HSI competency. If the worst should happen and MHS Going Global proves ineligible, HSI will somehow have to demonstrate it was not at fault if it is to maintain any credibility.
Meanwhile, Cian O’Connor (Good Luck) and Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V) - Ireland’s reserves, after Denis Lynch (All Star 5) was dropped on Monday - must continue to plan for the (slight?) possibility of being on a flight to Rio.
Allen is listed to compete this weekend in the Global Champions Tour in Monaco and in the five-star show in Paris next week, while O’Connor is due to line out in Aachen, Germany, the following week.
Will manager Splaine consider these performances if he is forced to choose a replacement for Broderick. Would it be unfair to do so?
Hopefully, he will not find himself in that position.
- Billy Twomey and the nine-year-old gelding Thomas were pipped for victory in a speed class at Hickstead yesterday. The Corkman was just eight-hundredths of a second off the pace set by Britain’s Louise Pavitt on Fiona V/H Lemenshoff in a contest that attracted 63 entries.
* Specialist banking group Investec will again put its name to the Irish show jumping team when it lines at next month’s Dublin Horse Show.
Last year, the South African-headquartered company, which has offices in Dublin and Cork, became the first corporate sponsor of the Irish team. With Irish riders regularly making headlines for the right reasons and with the event being a unique celebration of the horse and a showcase for the cream of Irish talent in terms of riding and breeding, it should have been a relatively easy sell, particularly with the Irish team rewarding Investec by lifting the Aga Khan trophy last year.
Investec’s Nigel Poynton said after the bank announced its continued sponsorship that they were “thrilled” the team had won, and he pointed out Investec’s association with equestrianism through its sponsorship of The Investec Derby. It is a vote of confidence in Irish show jumping and you would hope that the partnership could be extended in the coming years to encompass the team competing outside the walls of the RDS.
HSI chairman Pat Wall said: “It is fantastic that Investec have come on board again this year, we currently have an outstanding group of riders starring in international arenas around the world every weekend. Their efforts put Ireland and the sport of showjumping up in lights and make it attractive for sponsors to become involved.”
