Judith Faherty

ROBERT Splaine may be spoiled for choice when it comes to making his show jumping selection for Ireland’s one individual place at the Rio Olympics but it’s not one that he’s afraid of making either. For Splaine will be making it based on proven performance and with the ultimate goal of selecting the combination most likely to bring home a medal for Ireland.

Speaking on Tuesday, Robert Splaine said: “Greg Broderick, Cian O’Connor, Denis Lynch and Bertram Allen are the four main contenders for Rio based on past performance and what they did for us in team and individual top level performances over the past couple of years – they are the standout four. It wouldn’t be difficult to say that they are the main contenders, it’s not exclusive to them but it’s unlikely that anyone else would appear at this stage.

“HSI run a very inclusive system and it is open to others such, for instance like Anthony Condon, who has sprung to prominence because of ecent form and he is our fifth man for Lummen at this point.

“My brief is to select a combination to go to Rio with the best chance of delivering a medal. I don’t make the rules, the FEI has decided that the Olympic rules should be given to the country to decide who they should send and HSI has given me the brief to select the combination that will go and deliver the best result so I am contractually obliged to do that. I will select the combination with the best chance of delivering a medal.

“Bertram earned the place for Ireland. Had he not, I think we had nine other riders in that particular Group A that would have earned it anyway, but as it happens Bertram was on top of that particular list – he is a great talent, there is no question about that.

“They are all professional guys who I believe can do very very well. That’s the kind of decision I relish because if it was going to fall easy, it probably means that one person is going well and the others aren’t. I don’t want that sort of easy decision, it’s best for the country when the decision is made harder.”

The decision will be made on the week beginning June 5th and will be made on specifc criteria.

“The selection criteria is quite specific and the selected rider and myself will sit down and work out the best plan of campaign for that animal on the build-up to Rio so that the combination has the best chance of preparing to deliver the best result in Rio.”

Splaine also voiced his disappointment that Ireland had so narrowly missed out on qualifying a team for the Rio Games. “It’s hugely disappointing and I make no bones about that. I have never had a stronger panel to choose from team wise and the fact that we are not going to the Olympics is extremely disappointing. We were runner-up (for an Olympic place) at the World Equestrian Games, runner-up at the Europeans and we were even runner-up for a second individual place so I mean we have done it all right but we just haven’t qualified a team or a second individual which is disappointing, particularly with the strength we now have.”