STABILITY AT A PRICE – 2006 REVIEW PART 1

Following on from the roller coaster rows of previous seasons, 2006 was destined to be a year of relative stability, when, as new Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) president Charles Powell put it, "acrimony was best set aside".

Peace and harmony came dripping slow, and at a price. But in the end it succeeded in breaking through with the creation of a new selection system and the formation of the long awaited "umbrella body" for equestrian sport here.

Along the way the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) had to relinquish powers, Ireland was relegated from the Samsung Super League and did not gain Olympic qualification in either eventing or jumping.

In Part one of his review of the year, Michael Slavin traces the prelude to these events between January and June.

JANUARY

Our three equestrian wishes at the beginning of 2006 were LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP.

Sadly, the year began with the death of the very forward- looking chairman of the Irish Horse Board, Michael Osborne. Former Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh was elected to replace him and this in itself was a prelude to developments to come later in the season.

Edward Doyle became chairman of the Show Jumper’s Club and Charles Powell began his first year as president of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland.

"In the interests of stability," the Show Jumping Association of Ireland was divested of its powers to select international teams.

On the international front, Jessica Kurten showed just what a powerhouse she had become when winning both the Masters and the richest Grand Prix in the world at the Dubai show, run by Princess Haya.

Irish eventing international Susan Short was honoured with an EFI award.

FEBRUARY

Jessica Kurten continued her run of success when winning both the Masters and the Classic at Zurich with Libertina and Quinell. Interestingly enough, at the same time, the venues were announced for the rich new Global Champions Tour (GCT). It became clear that many of the venues clashed with Samsung Super League shows and signs were not good that Kurten would be available for crucial Nations Cup outings.

Meantime, Jessica had climbed to number two in the world rankings and could call her shots as to what shows she wished to attend.

New plans for the Dublin Horse Show were announced, as were preparations for Ireland’s Three Star CCI at Punchestown.

Concrete new proposals for a Show Jumping Committee were muted.

We noted the deaths of both Mick Connors of Waterford and Tom Wallace of the RDS.

Cameron Hanley was showing good form with wins in Belgium and Norway on his new SIEC team of horses from German-based Hungarian owner Sevil Sabanica.

With a fourth placing in the Spanish round at Vigo, Jessica Kurten confirmed her qualification of the World Cup final at Kuala Lumpur.

MARCH

Former army star Comdt John Ledingham was named as chairman of the Show Jumping Committee. Experienced international rider Robert Splaine was appointed new team manager for Ireland with the promise of two "advisors" to be named shortly thereafter.

Jessica Kurten received The Irish Field senior show jumping award. Susan Shortt took the top eventing trophy.

Ireland came fourth at the first Nations Cup of the season in Wellington, Florida with a team of Kevin Babington, Niall Grimes, Conor Swail and Darragh Kerins.

Hopes rose for the formation of the umbrella body as chairman of the implementation group Michael Dowling sent "concrete proposals" to all the constituent organisations.

Irish riders like Robert Splaine and Edward Doyle were going well on the Sunshine Tour in Spain.

APRIL

On foot of losing its selection powers for senior teams, the SJAI executive handed over all international selection duties for juniors, young riders and ponies to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland.

Jessica Kurten continued to pile up points at World Cup shows in ’s-Hertogenbosch and Gothenburg in preparation for her shot at the cup itself in Kuala Lumpur. She appeared on The Late Late Show with Pat Kenny and said that the World Championships is a priority.

Cian O’Connor, Harry Marshall and Edward Little showed good form on the Italian Sunshine Tour.

Tommy Brennan and James Kernan were appointed "advisors" on the Show Jumping Committee. The EFI President Charles Powell stated that the new selection process should ensure that "acrimony in the sport is behind us".

Splaine stressed two goals for the year: staying in the Samsung Super League and qualifying for the Olympics at the World Equestrian Games. He and the committee were immediately faced with some very stiff decisions, as they had to select teams for four Nations Cups in a row at La Baule, Aachen, Rome and Lucerne. These, in fact, would prove to be the make-or-break shows of the season.

Fulfilling all of her promise, Jessica Kurten came within one penalty point of winning the World Cup at Kuala Lumpur. With Libertina, she never knocked a fence over the five rounds of competition. In the end, she came second to world number one Marcus Ehning.

MAY

The Samsung Super League got under way at La Baule. Our team of Conor Swail, Capt Shane Carey, Cian O’Connor and Shane Breen came a disappointing second last.

Princess Haya of Jordan was elected as the new president of the International Equestrian Federation. She immediately backed new measures on horse welfare. "We cannot be seen as abusers of innocent animals in pursuit of personal glory," she said.

Fresh from her major successes, world number two Jessica Kurten joined the Irish team for Aachen. But when not making her two top horses available, trouble begins.

In the Cup there she and Maika had two fences down and the side she shared with Shane Breen, Shane Carey and Edward Doyle again placed seventh.

Matters were soon to come to a head in Lucerne, where the Irish were to compete after Rome early in June.

In the meantime, the Ireland team won the second division cup in Copenhagen on the strength of good performances from Ryan Crumley, Charles Hanley and Capt Gerry Flynn. Hanley and Hippica Kernan came fourth in the Grand Prix.

It was announced that Tattersalls would host an international horse trials.

JUNE

There was improvement for the Irish at Rome where the side of Cameron Hanley, Ryan Crumley, Marion Hughes and Peter Charles came fourth and moved up to sixth in the league. The team named for Lucerne was composed of a combination of the Rome and Aachen sides: Ryan Crumley, Cameron Hanley, Edward Doyle, Shane Breen, and Jessica Kurten. When Kurten again appeared to be saving her best horses for the Global Champions Tour and did not appear to be showing great form on Maika, Robert Splaine dropped her from the side.

She left the show and word was that she would never jump on a side under Splaine again. We were back to the old bickering. The team gave good promise in the first round at Lucerne and had a third placing in their grasp but things fell apart in the second round and we dropped to sixth place.

With GCT shows at Cannes and Monte Carlo on the horizon, there was no hope of help from the Kurten camp for the next show in Rotterdam. Our side there of Cian O’Connor, Shane Carey, Shane Breen and Billy Twomey had a near disaster as they came seventh again and once more dropped to the relegation slot in the league.

Fáilte Ireland announced title backing for Dublin Horse Show and the Irish Horse Board pledged €20,000 for the Breeders Championship as part of a €300,000 spend in sponsorship during the year. Conor Swail hit form with Rivaal and won the Drammen Grand Prix. Jessica Kurten placed fifth at both Cannes and Monte Carlo, earning €20,000.