AS the 142nd Dublin Horse Show gets ready to open its gates, there is a lot more than usual riding on the skill of Ireland’s chef d’equipe, Robert Splaine, in selecting the best available team to contest next Friday’s Aga Khan Nations Cup.
For following hot on the heels of Dublin (August 5th-9th), is the FEI European Championships in Aachen and Splaine’s number one goal is, and has to be, to bring home Olympic qualification from the challenging German venue.
“Our main goal this year is the European Championships in Aachen (August 11th-23rd). The two shows – Dublin and Aachen – fall close together meaning we will have to manage our resources carefully. We have to finish in the top three of those nations not already qualified to qualify for Rio. Aachen will be a tough task and we need to be at the top of our game on the day to achieve the required result,’’ Robert Splaine told The Irish Field.
“Aachen has a reputation for being the ultimate test of horse and rider and the championships certainly won’t be any exception. We need a squad of five good horses and riders to handle the challenge,” added Splaine.
The Dublin Horse Show is very close to his heart. The iconic RDS show attracts over 100,000 people over the five days, offering prize money of almost €1 million and pumping €43 million into the economy in what is the country’s biggest sporting event.
“The Aga Khan trophy is one of the most famous Nations Cup trophies in the world, if not the most famous of them all, and to be part of the Irish team is a great honour and to have the privilege of winning a Nations Cup in Dublin was one of the highlights of my career as chef d’equipe. Dublin is the one show that all the international riders want to come to and compete. It is regarded as a hugely competitive show with a great arena, great prize money and the crowds are second to none in their appreciation.
“The atmosphere and the build up to the Nations Cup in Dublin is the best in the world, it is not a day for the faint hearted and it is one that every rider wants on their C.V.,’’ said Splaine.
Selecting the best available team is a fine-tuned balancing act, never more so than this year with the crucial European Championships coming right after Dublin.
When asked when would the teams for the European Championships and Dublin be announced, Splaine said: “Preparations are well in hand. Different horses have different requirements. What suits one may not suit others.
“It’s a fine balancing act but not being part of the team for Dublin – or being part of it for some – could well be part of the bigger plan for Aachen. The nomination date and definite entry dates for the events are the only dates we have to comply with. In any sport, it is rare that teams are announced early. It is a strategic thing,’’ explained Splaine.
EXCITING TIMES
This is an exciting time for Irish show jumping and the Irish sport horse industry as a whole. The recent announcement that Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will take up the reins as chairman of the new strategy implementation group for the industry in September was warmly welcomed by Minister of State Michael Ring and chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, Professor Pat Wall.
“We are very lucky to have a Minister in Simon Coveney who is so interested and so knowledgeable about our sport and industry and to have him act as chair of this new group is most welcome,’’ added Splaine.
The availability of horsepower to mount the best Irish team on is always a key issue and one that reared its head before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine recently with Deputy Lucinda Creighton (Renua Ireland) proposing a tax incentive scheme for owners.
“I’m delighted that this type of idea is at last being discussed at high political level. We are grateful to all our owners and hope they get enormous enjoyment from being associated with the Irish show jumping team. We would like to think there are more people out there who want to be part of a very exciting time for Irish show jumping and something like that could be just what is required.
“We are very fortunate to have so many fantastic Irish riders all over the world as a result of a very good system at home and other nations look with some envy to us as a result. However, we don’t have any particular system of retention or incentives to retain good horses.
“I’m always concerned that the next phone call will inform me that one of our top team horses is sold, as has happened on many occasions and which is understandable. This leaves us vulnerable as we move towards major championships and Olympic Games. A small thing could help a lot. We are coming from a very strong platform now to make a strong case for more support and to take the uncertainty out of fielding strong championships teams,’’ said Splaine.
The past 12 months have been an extraordinary year for young Irish riders like Bertram Allen and Greg Broderick, both shining on the international circuit.
“The last year has been extraordinary for these new riders on the top international scene. Bertram has scaled great heights in such a short time, his achievements are nothing short of amazing. It is also no surprise to me that Greg took to top level show jumping so well. He is a special talent with a very special horse and he has not put a foot wrong,” concluded Splaine.