Connellan report holds key to umbrella body breakthrough

By Michael Slavin and Quentin Doran-O'Reilly

Recent high-level contacts between equestrian and government bodies appear to be bearing fruit in terms of progressing the long stalled efforts at forming an overall umbrella body for equestrian sport in Ireland.

According to well-informed sources the emerging solution revolves around three main elements:

* Acceptance of the Connellan Report as the way forward.

* Matching Government funding if agreement is reached among the equestrian bodies.

* A Government appointed independent Chairman of the new body.

The Connellan report followed intense negotiations between the Irish Horse Board and the Equestrian Federation of Ireland's Strategic Group regarding the make-up of the governing board of the proposed new umbrella body. In a panel of 15 members there would be the following assigned seats:

• Irish Horse Board 4.

• Olympic Disciplines 7 (of which the SJAI would have four, Eventing Ireland two and Others one)

• Non Olympic Disciplines 4

The Connellan Report was completed in November 2001 and for some reason has lain dormant since then.

A recent effort was made by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland to proceed without the Irish Horse Board, which it claimed was not willing to come on board.

It was unsuccessful when one of the main players, the SJAI, said it would not join without the IHB.

Then last week the Horse Board issued a timely press release in which it "emphatically reaffirmed support for the establishment of an Umbrella Body (Horse Sport Ireland) for the sport horse sector".

It also clearly stated:"The directors of the Irish Horse Board believe that the proposals contained in the Liam Connellan document of November 2001 represent the best way forward for the sport horse sector."

Ever since the beginning of this process some four years ago, it has been clear that the plan for a unified umbrella body for equestrian sport here would forever remain a dream without adequate Government funding, without Horse Board participation and strong executive leadership. Minister For Agriculture Joe Walsh said on a number of occasions, "the Government will not be found wanting if the equestrian bodies reach agreement on the plan".

People close to the current round of talks are saying, "we are closer to agreement than is generally realised". The elements of that agreement, The Connellan Report, Funding and a Government Chairman now appear to be on the table. Horse racing took the plunge a few years back when basically the same kind of package was on offer. Next move the equestrian bodies!