Judy Reynolds and Bertram Allen confident of Rio spot

Kildare dressage rider Judy Reynolds and show jumper Bertram Allen are confident they will find out in the next couple of days that they have secured Olympic places for Ireland, though Horse Sport Ireland yesterday declined to speculate if the pair or show jumper Denis Lynch had been successful in their bids.

The qualifying period closed last night and the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) said it is hoping to be in a position to announce tomorrow those countries that secured individual places, though Reynolds was upbeat after breaking her own Irish grand prix and grand prix freestyle records with Vancouver K at the weekend in Doha, Qatar.

“Yes, it looks like we’ll be OK for qualifying, but I’m awaiting FEI confirmation on Monday or Tuesday to be sure,” said German-based Reynolds after she achieved another record score of 79.700% in the grand prix freestyle to music, earning her €20,000 as runner-up.

“I’m delighted at how it worked out on Saturday. It was our last chance to gain a few more points and that wasn’t going to happen if I rode a safe round, so, with nothing to lose, we went for it and it paid off.”

On Friday, she broke her Irish grand prix record with a score of 74.32%.

Wexford show jumper Allen is in line to earn qualification as leader of Ireland’s geographical group with the mare Molly Malone V.

He said: “I do believe I have won place in the Olympics for Ireland, but must await confirmation from the FEI.”

Lynch, meanwhile must wait to see if he will take one of four places on offer in the overall rankings.

Both riders were also in action in Doha and in Saturday’s €500,000 grand prix, 20-year-old Allen had four faults in the second round with Molly Malone V to finish 10th, while Lynch and the stallion All Star 5 had five faults to place 12th.

Crucially, while it is the riders who win the Olympic place, it is up to Horse Sport Ireland and, in show jumping, the team manager Robert Splaine, who will travel to Rio de Janeiro.

At the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny last night rode Red Star d’Argent to victory in the $216,000 grand prix with the fastest of three clear rounds in a five-horse jump-off.

On Friday, Cian O’Connor shone brightest in a classy performance by the Irish team that saw them deny the home side in a closely-fought nations cup. Aboard Sam du Challois, the Meath-based rider demonstrated admirable coolness as anchor rider to produce his second clear round and secure victory in the seven-country contest.

Olympic bronze medalist O’Connor was heartened by the performance of Sam Du Challois, a stallion he acquired only four months ago.

“Nations cup jumping gives me the biggest buzz. To be last to go in the second round and put the ball in the net to secure the win for a team where everyone pulled extremely well together and played their part was a great thrill,” he told the Irish Examiner.

“It’s still early days for Sam and I, but I’m very encouraged by his quick progress to this level. It’s great to have two fantastic horses in Sam and Luke [his main horse Good Luck].”

Ireland shared pole position with the US at the half-way stage after Co Down rider Conor Swail opened with a clear on Martha Louise — the mare making her nations cup debut — which was matched by Cork’s Shane Sweetnam on Buckle Up, a combination also undertaking their first nations cup. Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z put up 12 faults, before O’Connor produced his first clear for a team total of zero.

Round two saw Swail and Sweetnam post single errors, but Moloney redeemed himself with a clear on the 13-year-old stallion to keep the pressure on the Americans.

When US veteran Beezie Madden started poorly on Simon before opting to retire after the third fence, it was left to O’Connor to confirm Ireland’s superiority, with manager Robert Splaine’s team finishing on four faults, the US on eight, and third-placed Colombia on 16 faults.