A Message from Lord Carew, President, Eventing Ireland

Dear Member,

The AGM in March 2007 saw a re-constituted Eventing Ireland. The past eleven months has seen considerable progress in the administration of the sport and huge credit is due to our outgoing Chairman, Neil Morris, together with the Board of Directors. However, within certain elements of the Membership, there has been considerable dissatisfaction which has led to much unpleasantness. In the best interests of Eventing Ireland, our Chairman resigned towards the end of 2007, but as no other Board Member was prepared to take on the role (under the Constitution, our Chairman has to come from within the Board of Directors) kindly agreed to 'act' as Chairman until the AGM in February 2008. At a further Board meeting in January 2008, Neil, again in the best interests of Eventing Ireland, voluntarily resigned on both Acting Chairman and as a Director of Eventing Ireland. We sincerely thank him for all the time and effort during these past three years.

At that same January Board meeting, John Wright was co-opted on as a Board Member in place of Neil Morris and subsequently elected to the role of Chairman. John is a Barrister, with considerable Business experience and for several years in the 1970's was a senior executive in the Equitation Division of Bord na gCapall. He competed in Eventing for several years and currently owns a string of high quality event horses.

This is a new and exciting time for Eventing Ireland with the advent of Horse Sport Ireland. I know that John Wright will do all he can to form a close and harmonious working relationships with both the Membership of Eventing Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland.

As we go to print, the 10th Anniversary of the David Foster Injured Riders Fund Ball is about to take place. Thanks to the wonderful effort of the team of 'Five Golden Girls - Sneexy Foster, Sally Corscadden, Emer Hatherall, Gillian Kyle and Carmel McShea - over 140,000 Euro has bee raise to date. These funds are now formed into a Trust Fund with a proper Deed of Trust and administered by four trustees.

Finally, it is with sadness that we record the death of Bill Buller - a past Chairman and President of the Irish Olympic Horse Society - who dies at the beginning of December last. He was also a past President of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland, an Irish Three Day Event Rider at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, in addition to having represented Ireland at both World and European Championships with great success. He is buried beside his late wide, Carol, to whom he was married for over fifty years, and who died just over one year ago. We will all greatly miss Bill who did so much for Ireland in the field of Equestrian Sports.

Best wishes and good Eventing in 2008.

The Lord Carew, President, Eventing Ireland