IRELAND'S Olympic show jumping squad was dealt a serious blow yesterday with the news that Miss FAN, the Belgian bred mare which team anchorman Eddie Macken was due to ride in Atlanta next month, has suffered a suspensory ligament injury which puts her participation in doubt.
Macken, in Aachen yesterday for the opening day of the Nations Cup show at which the Irish were victorious last year, has not yet officially notified the chairman of selectors, Paul Duffy, that Miss FAN will be unavailable for Atlanta.
But Duffy, joint organiser of the Heineken Irish Championships which opened in Galway yesterday, said last night that Macken would now be relying on his second string, Schalkhaar, for Ireland's defence of the Aachen Nations Cup.
The most up to date information he had received from Aachen was that the mare would require surgery at some stage for her injury. Miss FAN was last seen in international action at the St Gallen Nations Cup fixture in Switzerland a fortnight ago, but she did not line out for the team event there.
The withdrawal of Miss FAN from the team would mean that the Irish selectors would have to meet urgently to decide who would join European champion Peter Charles (Benetton), Jessica Chesney (Diamond Exchange) and Captain John Ledingham (Kilbaha) on the Irish squad in Atlanta.
As things stand the choice would have to be made from Macken's second ride, Schalkhaar Commandant Gerry Mullins (Millstreet Ruby) or American based Irish rider Damien Gardiner (Orthos). The Irish horses are due to fly to Atlanta on Saturday week.
Peter Charles, meanwhile, won a speed class in Aachen yesterday, his third win in a row with Blue Bayou including a victory at Arnhem last week which earned them a car.
In Claddagh Park, Galway last night Antrim jockey Harry Marshall, winner of the inaugural national championship II years ago, scored a double winning the opening leg of the speed championship with Allaska and also striking out in the Cashel House speed stakes, first round of the Heineken championship, with Velvisto.
This strong start is in stark contrast to Marshall's fortunes at last year's Heineken championships when a fall in the second leg of the three day fixture forced his withdrawal from the event.
The withdrawal of Miss FAN from the team would mean that the Irish selectors would have to meet urgently to decide who would join European champion Peter Charles (Benetton), Jessica Chesney (Diamond Exchange) and Captain John Ledingham (Kilbaha) on the Irish squad in Atlanta.
As things stand the choice would have to be made from Macken's second ride, Schalkhaar Commandant Gerry Mullins (Millstreet Ruby) or American based Irish rider Damien Gardiner (Orthos). The Irish horses are due to fly to Atlanta on Saturday week.
Peter Charles, meanwhile, won a speed class in Aachen yesterday, his third win in a row with Blue Bayou including a victory at Arnhem last week which earned them a car.
In Claddagh Park, Galway last night Antrim jockey Harry Marshall, winner of the inaugural national championship II years ago, scored a double winning the opening leg of the speed championship with Allaska and also striking out in the Cashel House speed stakes, first round of the Heineken championship, with Velvisto.
This strong start is in stark contrast to Marshall's fortunes at last year's Heineken championships when a fall in the second leg of the three day fixture forced his withdrawal from the event.
