SJI and Dressage Ireland have their say on Greenogue

THE Irish Field asked three of the largest affiliates – Showjumping Ireland, Eventing Ireland and Dressage Ireland – if they supported Horse Sport Ireland’s move to a new headquarters in Greenogue, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

Showjumping Ireland chairman, Eamon Rice, said the board of SJI are very supportive of the move. “We, the full board of SJI, had a very constructive meeting with HSI. They gave an excellent presentation on the Greenogue project and then we had a Q&A that went on for over an hour. It was very comprehensive, it covered all the questions that we were being asked and couldn’t answer, and they answered them. Our board went away with a very positive view on Greenogue, there wasn’t a man that wasn’t supportive.

“Somebody had to make the move to go ahead with this sort of project and you would have to commend HSI. There will be a focal point for all the disciplines which will lead to education within the sport horse fraternity. At the end of the day, in 10 years’ time, I think everyone will say this was a good move for the industry.”

Showjumping Ireland own the building that houses the Horse Sport Ireland offices, as well as their own. Rice said the executive of SJI would have to discuss if the association would move to Greenogue. “That will have to go to the executive and there will be due consideration. That will have to go out around the regions and be a democratic decision. The directors will make that decision when they correlate all the views from within show jumping.”

Meanwhile, The Irish Field understand SJI have received interest from a commercial company for the purchase of their building.

Dressage Ireland chairperson, Marguerite Kavanagh, said: “We had a very informative presentation from HSI on the proposed Centre of Excellence at Greenogue. The Board of Dressage Ireland are very fully supportive of the move and Dressage Ireland hope to move there in due course.

“We see it as a very positive development for the sport horse industry, not alone for the affiliates but as an education and training centre which will inevitably be beneficial for coaches, breeders and producers of horses. A central base with supporting IT systems will be important for gathering statistical information which will aid research and influence policy into the future.”

The chairman of Eventing Ireland, David O’Brien, declined to comment on the move when asked this week.