November 11th 2000

Liz Pottie to run SJAI office

By Michael Slavin

Former Northern Region Secretary of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland, Liz Pottie of Fintona, is to take over the management of the SJAI office for a three-month period while a replacement chief executive officer is being recruited.

After a six-month probationary period, Paddy Desmond stepped down from the new post last week. On Monday of this week a meeting of the national executive confirmed the temporary appointment of Mrs Pottie to handle the day-to-day running of the sport until the CEO position is again filled early in the new year.

Liz Pottie is a well known member of the Northern Region. She has not only acted as regional secretary but is currently an international judge and a member of the national executive.

She is married to Fintona vet Sandy Pottie and their family have all participated in show jumping. Mrs Pottie was deeply involved in the creation of Ecclesville Equestrian centre and the derby course there. She is currently working on the events programme at Necarne Castle but will be taking leave from there to concentrate on her new duties at the Anglesea Road office.

Meantime, a professional recruitment agency has been appointed to the job of finding a new CEO for the Show Jumping Association of Ireland, which is still struggling to come to grips with the pressures arising from its ever expanding business sector.