Isabel Hurley

WITH bad weather forcing the cancellation of Lummen Nations Cup this weekend, the pressure has been ramped up on Ireland’s show jumpers to do well at St Gallen, Falsterbo and Dublin as an average of these scores will be used as the benchmark for the Belgian shortfall.

Ireland were to field a strong field from squad members Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor, Cameron Hanley, Denis Lynch and Anthony Condon in Lummen but atrocious weather across Europe forced the cancellation of the five-star classes at the venue. The one and two-star competitions were allowed go ahead along with the Belgian Championships for the seven-year-olds.

Irish chef d’equipe, Robert Splaine, revealed at Punchestown this week that an average of the points gained at the remaining three-point scoring venues would be used in the unfolding scenario.

“I arrived in Brussels to two inches of snow, rain and hail and the FEI had no choice but to put it off as the forecast for the weekend is very very rough. We had a good chance but in the best interest of the sport and the horses, it was the right decision.

“We had a great team on paper, certainly our team should have done very well. What happens now is that we have three more qualifying events - St Gallen, Falsterbo in Sweden and Dublin - and after Dublin, the points we gain at those venues will be divided by three, that gives us an average and they are the points we would have gained if we had been competing this week.”

Speaking to commentator, Robert Hall, Splaine agreed that it was very disappointing that we do not have a team going to the Rio Olympics. “It’s a shame we don’t have a team. I’m very disappointed with that because I think we are stronger now than we have been for many years. But we are first reserves and there is a possibility if some team falls out and we are also first reserve for a second individual place so if anything happens before July 18th, we could still see more Irish show jumpers in Rio.”

DECISION

Looking to his decision to select Ireland’s one show jumper for Rio for the place won by Wexford’s Bertram Allen, Splaine said: “It will be a big decision. I will select who I feel has the best possibility of bringing home the very best result for the country.”

Flanked by Michael Duffy, chief executive of the RDS, Splaine said that the Irish team would be going all out to retain their Aga Khan crown at the Dublin Horse Show (July 20th - 24th). “We should have a great team in Dublin. We won it last year and we will be doing our very, very best to do it again,” he said.

With the RDS poised to apply for planning permission for their new stand in July, Duffy revealed that the building would start shortly after the green light was given for the project.

“We are working with the design team now on the new stand for the RDS. Leinster (Rugby) have particular requirements, we have got to have international show jumping there and we also have to have concerts so it is quite a complex, multi-purpose venue and we want to go for planning in about July and start building after the next horse show subject to getting the finance in order,” he said.