SASCOC up

Have any of you seen this colossal mess up with the selection of South Africa's sole Equestrian representative at the Olympic Games? It has become a debacle that has been followed internationally, by the entire equestrian fraternity. It's a disgrace and an embarrassment and I hope that the officials involved in this from both the SA Equestrian Federation and SASCOC are dealt with severely.

From the SASCOC Media Releases Blog:

South Africa’s Olympic governing body SASCOC await the SA Equestrian Federation’s final decision on the selection issues over the allocated eventing spot at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Two eventers – Alex Peternell and Paul Hart – met the qualifying standards. But the Federation submitted Hart’s name as the nominated competitor.

Peternell then took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who ruled that he was the better qualified individual with eligibility for selection.

SASCOC then referred the matter back to the Federation to review their nomination as per CAS decision of Saturday, 21 July 2012.

“The Federation maintain that in their opinion Paul Hart is the correct choice and therefore have not seen their way clear to submit a nomination for Alex Peternell,” said SASCOC Chief Exeutive Officer Tubby Reddy on Monday night.

‘Given this scenario and in keeping with Article 6.3.3 from SASCOC’s Articles of Association, the SASCOC Board has decided that we will not utilise the one slot available to the eventing discipline at the Olympic Games. The Board therefore maintains that the sport of Equestrian will not have any representation at the Olympic Games.’

“The Board is fully aware that A Peternell may go back to CAS for an urgent hearing and we are prepared to defend our case, while noting that CAS’s ruling on the new appeal may have to be adhered to by ourselves.”

Subsequently, CAS has ruled that, and enforced that SASCOC and SAEF must allow Peternell to compete, and they must facilitate it financially if necessary.

Paul Hart's horse, Heartbreak Hill (ironic name) is a 15yo Rocky Marriage 2 time winner from PE.

Nothing coming out of SA as far as beurocrats and politicians are concerned can surprise me anymore.....not even a screw up like this. They are just THAT bad!!!

Hope we get some representation?

Heard on the John Robbie show this morning:

• mens hockey had to qualify not once but twice
• "wrong" competitors chosen for wrestling
• these games (2012) are the practice rounds for 2016
  etc etc (can't remember the rest)
  disgraceful

sounds like the inept local government...the most inconsiderate ...selfishness reigns:X

Even Oscar "blade" Pistorius had to qualify twice.......

Perhaps we should get horses to win best 2 out of 3 before we allow them to crack their maidens?