The latest controversy that has engulfed the world of Irish showjumping has taken a new twist today, following the decision on Sunday by rider Harry Marshall to withdraw his name for selection for future Nations Cup teams.
Marshall claims he was told he was on last Friday's Aga Khan Cup team but was then dropped, after team-mate Cian O'Connor threatened to pull out of the team if captain Shane Carey was not included instead of him.
Tom Slattery, who has stepped down fom the International Affairs Committee which chooses the teams to represent Ireland, asked the Irish chef d'equipe Eamon Rice why Marshall was dropped and if Cian O'Connor was implicated in the decision. Rice said that he didn't remember and Slattery resigned straight away.
President of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland Avril Doyle has said there will be a review of Ireland's international showjumping team selection process after the final round of the Samsung Super league in Barcelona in September.
The MEP said the review will be carried out by the federation and the Showjumping Association of Ireland. Submissions will be welcome from all parties.
Meanwhile, O'Connor claims he was forced to hire bodyguards at last week's show in the RDS after having received death threats prior to the event.
