Robert Splaine and Horse Sport Ireland agree new contract

Horse Sport Ireland announced today that it had signed a new contract with Robert Splaine as Ireland's International Show Jumping Team Manager.

The contract will run for four years up the next Olympic Games in London in 2012 but will be subject to a review clause at the end of 2010.

The 47-year-old Corkman, who presided over Ireland's 2007 campaign to get back into the top level Nations' Cup series, the Samsung Super League, and then saw the country finish a highly creditable fifth in the series in 2008, has been Team Manager since 2006.

Robert Splaine said today: "I am delighted to have agreed to a new contract with Horse Sport Ireland. There are major challenges ahead with the new top level Nations Cup series and the European Championships in 2009. Of course the long term goal is London 2012 but we have to qualify first and this will not be easy," he said.

The Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland Joe Walsh said that he was also delighted that the new contract had been agreed.

"Everyone knows that the job of being Team Manager for the Irish show jumping team has been a particularly difficult one. The re-appointment of Robert Splaine will bring continuity to the position. I would now call on all the riders to get behind the team for 2009 and beyond and to ensure that show jumping is back in the headlines for the right reasons," he said.