IRELAND QUALIFY FOR OLYMPIC SHOW JUMPING FINAL

Daniel Coyle and Legacy on their way to a brilliant clear round at the Olympic Games in Paris (Photo: Libby Law)

A brilliant performance from Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team of Cork’s Shane Sweetnam, Derry’s Daniel Coyle and Meath’s Cian O’Connor, has seen them comfortably qualify among the 10 teams that will go forward to tomorrow’s (Friday) Olympic team final in Paris.

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz (ISH) in action at the Olympic Games in Paris (Photo: Libby Law)

Shane Sweetnam was first to jump for Ireland with the Irish-bred James Kann Cruz (ISH) and they finished with just one fence down for a four fault score.

That was followed by a superb clear round from Daniel Coyle with the mare Legacy, before Ireland’s anchor rider Cian O’Connor and Maurice finished with one fence down and a time fault. Ireland finished today’s qualifier on a total score of 9 faults in a combined time of 230.22 which left them in sixth place of the 20 teams that started the competition.

Cian O’Connor and Maurice clear the water at the Olympic Games in Paris (Photo: Libby Law)

Ireland will be joined in the final by Germany, USA, Great Britain, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Belgium, Israel and Mexico. Meanwhile Switzerland, Canada and Brazil were among the high profile teams who have missed the cut for the final.

After his round four time Olympian O’Connor said: “Perfect start to our competition – Shane got us off to a great start and Daniel’s mare was sensational. There’s something different about the three-man format – you saw Peder Fredricson nipped out at the well and it’s very nearly cost them dearly so I want to be safe, get round in one piece and have a go at it tomorrow.

“Top 10 finish was the aim of the day today – whether you finish first or tenth it’s just to determine the order of jumping so we didn’t put too much pressure on ourselves. We’ll have a good chat tonight and hopefully we’ll have a few more clears tomorrow.”

All 10 teams will start the final on a zero score, with the competition starting tomorrow at 1pm Irish time.

BREEDING:

JAMES KANN CRUZ (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan (KWPN) out of CSF Telly Cruz (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Patrick Connolly. Owner: Gizmo Partners LLC.