Horse Sport Ireland today confirmed the identity of Ireland's individual showjumper at the Rio Olympics, and caused quite a stir in doing so. It had been expected that Bertram Allen would occupy Ireland's sole individual slot. Allen had secured Ireland's place at the Games, and is ranked tenth in the world. Instead, Ireland have selected Greg Broderick, who is ranked in 252nd place in the world rankings.
Allen secured Ireland's place at the games: fulfilling the quota necessary by virtue of his consistent high placing in the world rankings. Olympic rules dictate, however, that Allen could only secure the position on behalf of his country, and not for himself, meaning he would remain at the mercy of Horse Sport Ireland's selection.
While Allen would seem the conventional choice, team manager Robert Splaine has always stressed that the selection would be based on form. In March, the Irish Examiner listed the exact criteria for selection:
1. Present form of the horse and athlete up to the date of selection;
2. Past performance(s) of the horse and athlete;
3. The performance of the combinations in this year’s five-star nations cups competitions;
4. The performance of the combinations in five-star grands prix this year and last year;
5. The performance of the combinations at last year’s European Championships and FEI top-level, five-star nations cups;
6. The soundness of the horse to meet the challenges of competing at the Olympics, and;
7. Commitment to the HSI high-performance programme.
Despite the chasm between both men in the world rankings, Broderick has been in the better form of late. At the team event in St. Gallen last week, for example, Broderick finished fourth, Cian O'Connor seventh and Allen ninth. Broderick was exceptional, twice going clear for his round, whereas Allen committed ten faults.
Brodrick then repeated his feat at the Grand Prix.
Following the decision, Robert Splaine was quoted as saying
This has been a very difficult decision to make as we are fortunate that our four main contenders for the place are very strong.
Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global (ISH) have been outstanding contributors for Ireland in Nations Cups and have been consistent clear round jumpers at 5 star level.Their performance last weekend in St Gallen, Switzerland where they jumped a double clear in the Nations Cup to help Ireland to victory, and followed that up with two clear rounds in the Grand Prix, shows they are a combination at the very top of their form.
Slaine and Horse Sport Ireland have proven themselves consistent in their selection policy, which is to be commended. It is, however, tough on Allen.
There is still hope for Allen to be part of the Irish showjumping team at the Olympics : Ireland are currently first reserves for an individual place and a team place, and Allen's name is alongside Cian O'Connor's and Denis Lynch.
Last year, the Irish showjumping team were denied a place in Rio as a result of a crazy moment at the FEI European Championships in Aachen last year, as Cian O'Connor was docked a point having been distracted by a member of the crowd appearing on the course.
