January 20th 2001

SJAI Executive again finely balanced

By Michael Slavin

After recent elections in all four regions the two traditional camps within the Show Jumping Association of Ireland's National Executive are again running neck and neck.

So much so any crucial vote on the Association's future would be hard to call and the decision one way or the other might well come down to the casting vote of the Chairman. It is interesting that in the January bulletin of the SJAI Tony Hurley has this to say "My personal belief is that this proposed unified equestrian body is the way forward, but there is still a lot of talking and negotiating to be done in the months ahead".

Exactly who will fill the chair will not be confirmed until the new Executive's first meeting early next week. But it appears certain that Munster's Tony Hurley will be returned for a second year.

This divide in the association puts the SJAI executive into two different camps. However the difference between the camps is rather subtle and difficult to define.

No one term will sufficiently define either group but on gut issues like whether or not the SJAI should control its own international affairs or join the new umbrella body there are fairly clear patterns as to how the members will vote.

But since all the executives are close to their grassroots the decision could be tipped one way or the other by the strength of opinion among ordinary members.

In the new executive Connaught and Leinster would appear closely allied on one side. The Northern Region is firmly positioned on the other side while Munster is divided between the two with a majority probably joining with the north.

Returned from the Northern Region are regional chairman Dessie McFadden, Jim McLaughlin, Kathleen O'Hagan, Myrtle Peak and former member Harold Lusk.

Connaught has the same five as last year - new regional chairman Tom Dixon, Paul Duffy(snr) Padraig Geraghty, Charles Hanley and Tomas O'Brien.

Two newer members are on from Leinster - Paddy Mullen and Robert Fagan along with former national chairman Brian Gormley, Steve Hickey and regional chairman Jim Doyle.

Munster is not finalised until the election of National Chairman is decided. Newly elected from there are Francis Connors and Michael Hartigan . Michael Hennessy and Norman Wheeler are back once more and Finbar Horgan will come on for Tony Hurley when he is confirmed as chairman.