IRELAND WILL TAKE a legal challenge to the Court of Arbitration for Sport next week in the hopes of securing an Olympic showjumping place.
Horse Sport Ireland’s case centres around a ‘freak’ incident at the European Championships last August, where the team narrowly missed out on qualification for Rio 2016.
A steward ran across Cian O’Connor and Good Luck during their round and the horse hit the next fence, incurring four faults.
Ireland subsequently missed out on qualification by less then one fault in the final standings.
An initial appeal was rejected by the sport’s governing body, the FEI, on the grounds that O’Connor did not stop to protest and went on to complete his round.
Ireland’s CAS appeal will be heard in Lausanne, Switzerland next Wednesday, 16 December.
Horse Sport Ireland’s legal team will be led by senior counsel Martin Hayden, supported by barrister David Casserly, along with Joe Fitzpatrick and Eamon Carey from Smithwick Solicitors.
“To have a showjumping team at the Olympic Games is very important for Ireland,” HSI chairman Pat Wall said in a statement.
“Our riders and their owners are doing a huge amount to promote Ireland as a world leader in the sport of showjumping .
They went to the European Championships to pursue their Olympic dream. A freak incident occurred on the day which hindered our efforts. All we are looking for is fair play
“We are convinced that if this incident had not happened, the Irish show jumping team would be going to the Olympics.”
Ireland have already qualified a team in the eventing discipline.
