WITH just 22 days left in his current contract, Ireland’s senior show jumping High Performance director Rodrigo Pessoa unequivocally stated this week that he wants to remain in his role with the goal of bringing home Ireland’s first ever equestrian team medal at next summer’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 2004 Brazilian Olympic champion, who guided Ireland to the gold medal at the 2017 European Championships and victory in the Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona last month, made his intentions known in a letter to Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Reynolds and all of the High Performance committee, which includes HSI CEO Ronan Murphy.

Pessoa said he was told in reply from Reynolds that such matters are directly taken care of by the CEO and the board.

“A week or 10 days ago I sent a letter to Joe Reynolds and the High Performance committee telling them I would stay because I truly believe that it is in the best interest of the team. We have accomplished this much and have to see it through,” Pessoa told The Irish Field on Friday.

“I spoke to a lot of the riders, I saw some of the riders and it looks like the right thing to do. And obviously, when you are selectors, you can’t please everyone all the time. There are some riders that feel like they should be on, and others shouldn’t be on, but that is part of this game.”

The High Performance committee are scheduled to have a meeting on Monday, and Pessoa is considering “getting on a plane and going over for the meeting. It is important. I care for the guys and I want to see Ireland on the podium, I am going to fight for them, like I have done since the beginning.”

Small world

Pessoa expressed disappointment in not having heard from Horse Sport Ireland’s CEO despite his contract expiring shortly, adding that he is aware HSI have been seeking alternative candidates for the job since early in the summer.

“I heard this in July. This [show jumping] is a small world and I have been in it a long time. I have a lot of allies. I knew since July and I confronted it once and it was denied, I wanted him to know I was aware of this. My contract was running, there is no way they were going to push me out,” Pessoa said.

Asked why he is keen to continue despite obvious internal issues, Pessoa added: “I am a confident human being and I knew that I had a job to do. I have been long enough in this game, these political things, they do happen. I kept my head down, and tried to do my best for Team Ireland. We didn’t do well in Rotterdam, but we bounced back in Barcelona.

“They hired me to do a job [Olympic qualification], I delivered. I respect tremendously my predecessors but now they have to think what is the best for a team to get on the podium and leave everything else aside. It’s a minority that doesn’t want me.”

Riding for Brazil

Asked if it was his intention to return to team riding for Brazil and aim for the Olympic Games, Pessoa said: “That is what they are hanging their hat on. I have never stopped competing over the last three years, but the priority was always Ireland.

“If there is a conflict of interest, we have a team that is large enough to let Michael (Blake) or Gerry (Mullins) be the front man.”

Pessoa added that should HSI decide not to renew his contract, he supports Michael Blake 100% for the role. “I totally support him. That would be the least disruptive.

“If they decide I can’t do it, I am not going to cry and throw my toys out of the pram. I want what is best for the guys for the team,” added Rodrigo Pessoa.

THE Irish Field this week asked Horse Sport Ireland if Rodrigo Pessoa had officially confirmed that he would like to extend his contract, or if are they actively engaged in a replacement strategy.

A spokesperson replied: “Rodrigo Pessoa’s consultancy agreement as the Performance Director for the senior jumping programme expires on 1st December. Rodrigo has formally declared his intention to actively campaign and seek selection himself to ride for Brazil at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.

“This would obviously preclude him from managing Team Ireland as his involvement as an athlete for a competing nation would be a direct conflict of interest. We are currently discussing the matter with Rodrigo.”

Additionally, The Irish Field asked if Michael Blake has confirmed his interest in staying on in his capacity as development team manager and on the HP board, and if Gerry Mullins would remain in his role as HP committee chair.

“Gerry Mullins, Michael Blake and Taylor Vard are members of the Horse Sport Ireland High Performance jumping committee. This is a standing committee of the Board of Horse Sport Ireland, and its membership is reviewed in accordance with its terms of reference on an annual basis.

“Michael Blake joined this committee, at the request of Rodrigo Pessoa, in his capacity as development team manager and technical advisor. Therefore, the jumping development manager’s tenure with the HP jumping committee is directly linked to jumping performance director’s role.

“Michael has also expressed an interest in being considered for the role of jumping performance director. Therefore it would not be appropriate to remain as a member of the HP jumping committee while also seeking to be considered as a candidate for the performance director role. It is the responsibility of the chairman of Horse Sport Ireland to appoint the chairman of the High Performance jumping committee.

“Horse Sport Ireland will shortly initiate a process to ensure that the optimum team management structures and supports are in place to support our athletes in the important build up to the Tokyo Olympic Games. This process will be completed before the end of this year,” the HSI spokesperson added.