NO plans are in place to stage the Dublin Horse Show in 1998 following the announcement that the 1998 Nissan World Equestrian Games will not be held at the historic showgrounds, the RDS Chief Executive, Mr Shane Cleary, said last night.
The World Equestrian Games Ireland organisation announced "with regret" that negotiations between it and the Royal Dublin Society concluded on the basis that it is not possible for the event to be held in the RDS in August, 1998.
Saying the events which were to have been held in the RDS will now be staged at Punchestown, the statement quoted WEGI chairman, Mr James Osbourne, as saying that due to the development of a hotel on the RDS site, there is a "significant reduction in the space to accommodate our plains for the venue".
"While recognising that this decision represents a significant departure from the original plans, we are firm in the view that this is in the best interests of a successful games which will be a shop window to the world for Irish equestrianism," Mr Osbourne said.
But last night Mr Cleary said the WEGI organisation had booked the RDS to stage the games from August 4th-16th, 1998, and on the basis that it would be compensated, the RDS had agreed not to stage the 1998 Horse Show and stage the event instead.
He said that now, 15 months from the event, they were being told that the three disciplines originally planned for the RDS - dressage, vaulting and showjumping - will not be held at the grounds in August, 1998.
He said he was very disappointed at the announcement. The hotel development at the RDS involved only 3.3 acres of the 42 acres of the site. "They (WEGI) have been aware of our plans to develop the hotel site since September, 1996, and now we have this decision only 15 months away from the event," he said.
He said he could not speculate on why WEGI had decided to switch the event to Punchestown.
Asked if the RDS will be taking the question of compensation for the cancellation of the 1998 Horse Show to the courts, Mr Cleary said he could not comment on that.
Defending the move to Punchestown, Mr Osbourne said the organiser's had examined in full the logistical, financial and marketing implications. The move would, he said, eliminate a number of areas of duplication in overheads.
"Given its proximity to Dublin, there will be no difficulties with accommodation for visitors to the games and we had in any case been pursuing detailed negotiations with relevant parties to provide enhanced transport facilities between Punchestown and Dublin," he said.
The statement said the FEI, the world governing body of equestrian sport, had been fully briefed on the decision and has confirmed, its support for the games and the organisers. The Government also had been advised.