Denis Lynch not on Irish Team?

[vineyridge]

I think that the whole South African Olympic Teams for all disciplines were to be announced on June 7th. The South African Equestrian NF set their selection date to back on May 23rd, IIRC, so (they said) all of the administrative approvals could come from the Olympic Committee and their team announced with the others. Peternell was not qualified in May; he qualified at Brabham which finished June 9th.

Problem per CAS is that he was not informed of the earlier closing date; and the South African criteria were clear that the rider with the most Olympic rider points had to be chosen if he had a qualified horse that could go.

Both AP Uprising and Tiger Eye were injured and not available for the Olympics at the time of selection.

You should read the CAS arbitration opinion.

When I said “funny”, I meant “funny peculiar” not “funny ha ha”.

[Jaenelle]

I have read both CAS arbitration opinions.

The facts are a little more complicated.

The original selection date for SAEF to put forward athletes was never 7 June. It was always 17 June. Athletics SA asked for permission to put their team through later - SAEF “neglected” to do so. It was only when Alex reminded them AFTER Paul’s selection was announced, that he still had another show to go, that they magnanimously said “please try to qualify, you’ll be reserve”.

The decision to bring the date even earlier was withheld from him - quite deliberately - by the then chairman of selectors, who resigned in a snit after the selections. She also happens to stable with Paul. The reason she resigned is because SAEF refused to pay for her to go with him to the Olympics as part of his support team.