Attempts to break showjumping deadlock fail

Jessica Kürten and Harry Marshall have both refused to jump on the Irish team for the final showdown in the Samsung Super League…

Jessica Kürten and Harry Marshall have both refused to jump on the Irish team for the final showdown in the Samsung Super League at Barcelona next month, despite attempts at mediation at a meeting in Dublin yesterday.

The meeting was called to try and break the deadlock over the selection process for the team.

Kürten walked out of the meeting after being "verbally abused" by Army rider Capt Gerry Flynn, who stated that there should be no need to beg Kürten to ride on the Irish team.

Former Fáilte Ireland chairman Mark Mortell, who chaired the meeting, called for Flynn to withdraw the comment, but although Flynn apologised for using a profanity, he would not retract his remark.

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Kürten, who flew home to Germany last night, declined to comment as she and her husband, Eckhard, left the Dublin hotel where yesterday's meeting was being held.

With Kürten and Marshall not be available, the selectors - in conjunction with chef d'equipe John Ledingham - last night nominated the team for the Barcelona final on September 18th as Shane Breen, Dermott Lennon, Billy Twomey, Capt Shane Carey and Cian O'Connor.

However, O'Connor confirmed to The Irish Times last night that Waterford Crystal has now been withdrawn from the squad.