Showjumper Harry Marshall, who declared he would not ride for Ireland under the current selection regime, has said he is willing to jump in the Samsung Super League showdown in Barcelona in a fortnight. But the move may have come too late.
The breakthrough came yesterday afternoon when Marshall spoke to riders' representative James Kernan at the Spanish show in Gijon and said he was willing to put his name forward for Barcelona, where Ireland will be battling to avoid relegation to the second division. Marshall was second in yesterday's speed championship in Gigon.
"I am prepared to go and jump in Barcelona," Marshall told The Irish Times yesterday, but he declined to comment on whether the offer was unconditional.
Word of Marshall's welcome change of heart came too late for inclusion in the team listings that were sent to show officials yesterday afternoon, but efforts will now be made to get him in as a substitute.
The official team of Shane Breen, Capt Shane Carey, Billy Twomey, Dermott Lennon and Cian O'Connor, which was selected at a meeting on Tuesday night, was sent to Barcelona yesterday by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI). But EFI secretary general Dan Butler said yesterday a substitution after the official close of entries may not be possible. "A medical cert or a veterinary cert has to be sent in to make a substitution," he said.
There is another potential problem, as Marshall was not on the original nominated list of entries, allowing the possibility of an objection from one of the other seven nations at the Super League final.
Chairman of selectors Taylor Vard last night welcomed the news of Marshall's return to the Irish camp. "It's a step in the right direction, I just hope it isn't too late," Vard said. "We've got to see if the show will accept his entry now."
Vard confirmed there had been no word from Jessica Kürten, who also refused to go forward for Barcelona selection. He said he will be contacting the four-man selection committee and chef d'équipe John Ledingham over the weekend to discuss Marshall's inclusion.