Horse Sport Ireland have put their neck on the line with this decision.
Bertram Allen, Ireland’s top showjumper, has not been selected for the Rio Olympics.
Horse Sport Ireland’s Team Manager Robert Splaine has recommended that the association put world number 252 Greg Broderick forward as their team choice to the Olympic Council of Ireland.
That means Allen, who was ranked 10 in the world at the end of last month, will not be competing for medals at Rio 2016. Splaine commented:
“This has been a very difficult decision to make as we are fortunate that our four main contenders for the place are very strong.”
Allen won Ireland’s single showjumping spot for the Games earlier this year but has now been denied the honour of competing at the event, this August, in Brazil.
Speaking about the Olympics back in March, the Wexford native stated that the single showjumping spot should have been his as he had worked for 15 months towards that goal. Three months later and it looks as though a year and a half of his life has been for nought.
Allen and his horse, Molly Malone V, are first on the reserve list for the individual competition so there remains a small chance that a withdrawal could open the door to his first Olympics appearance.
There was a strong reaction online, most of it horrified on Allen’s behalf:
#BertramAllen not going to the #Olympics ??!!
Serious mistake. He's our best showjumper— Ronnie W (@Ekbalco) June 8, 2016
#bertramallen robbed!!!!
— Christina White (@1988CWhite) June 8, 2016
Greg Broderick selected for Rio Olympics. He is ranked 252nd in world rankings. He is 16th Irish rider on that list! Bertram Allen is top 10
— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) June 8, 2016
Broderick has been in good form in recent weeks, on MHS Going Global, and two clear rounds helped Ireland to a recent Nations Cup victory.
