Greg Broderick selected for Rio as Bertram Allen misses out

Consistency and clear rounds from Greg Broderick have kept Ireland's top 10 ranked rider, Bertram Allen, from being nominated for the Olympic place he gained for Ireland earlier this year on his horse Molly Malone V.

The 20-year-old was a surprise omission when Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) selected Broderick for the only Irish show jumping place in Rio.

Allen’s only route now is if Ireland are upgraded as one of the reserves and Allen is picked, or, if Broderick or his horse, Going Global, suffers injury or illness.

Broderick’s showing in Nation’s Cup events and especially last weekend in St Gallen, Switzerland earned the Thurles 31-year-old team manager Robert Splaine’s recommendation.

The decision to overlook Allen came down to a combination of horse and rider as well as form and consistency from Broderick.

“Bertram actually won the spot (in Rio) for Ireland,” said a HSI spokesperson. “He is a phenomenal athlete but two months out from the Games when you balance previous form and present form, one had both and the other didn’t have both.

“You can’t tell when a horse is going to peak. But it has to be in two months time. We are talking about animals here. . . .

"It's down to timelines as well. Sure we wish we'd more time but the timelines are set by the Olympic Council so the decision has to be made."

There is no denying Broderick’s recent clear rounds although the disparity between the two riders in the Longine World Rankings is considerable. Allen is ranked 10th in the world and Broderick 252.

"We are very lucky to have riders high in the world rankings but for the decision of the Olympic Games it is horse and rider performance who have jumped consistently clear at a five star level, particularly in Nations Cup competitions," added the HIS spokesperson. "That's what Robert Splaine has based his selection criteria on.

Double clear

“Bertram has been riding a selection of horses but a lot came down to St Gallan, where Greg again produced a double clear round and we can go back to the Dublin Horse Show where we won the

Aga Khan

Trophy, again where Greg produced a double clear round.

“At the weekend he had four clear rounds at five star level, two in relation to the cup, two in the Grand Prix, again jumping clear rounds all on Going Global who is an Irish bred horse.”

Article 609 in HIS’s selection policy explains that once Broderick’s nomination is accepted he can be replaced only for illness or injury.