The Irish Dressage team have qualified for an Olympic Games for the first time ever.

Five days from today Ireland’s dressage team will commence their bid for honours and a possible Tokyo 2020 place when the European Championships get under way in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The Championships feature Dressage, Show Jumping and Para-Dressage, and it will be the dressage competition that gets the whole affair underway on Monday.

New Zealander Tim Price has topped the latest FEI world eventing rankings just days after winning the George Mernagh Memorial CCI4*-S at Tattersalls International Horse Trials in Co Meath, while Ireland’s Elizabeth Power has made a significant climb following her fourth-place finish in the Irish Field CCI4*-L at the same meeting.

Ireland grabs its share of international attention this week with Tattersalls International Horse Trials getting underway in Co. Meath today and Mullingar hosting its two-star international show jumping meeting over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The past weekend was a good one for Irish dressage.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine was in no mood yesterday for predictions regarding today’s Furusiyya Nations Cup Series opener in Lummen, Belgium, writes John Tynan.

Sarah Ennis greatly appreciated the lack of applause as she cruised into an impressive 10th place on Horseware Stellor Rebound at the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, yesterday.

There was heartache yesterday for dressage rider, Anna Merveldt, who missed out on progressing by one place.

Dressage rider Anna Merveldt says she will be “sweating” today as she waits to see if her performance yesterday proves good enough to see her through to the next round.

It has been a largely disappointing day for Team Ireland at the London Olympics today.

Sanita Puspure is first of the Irish competitors out today in the women's C semi finals in the sculls at the London Olympics.

“I would have to put wings on him,” said dressage rider Anna Merveldt yesterday of her horse Coryolano, as she mulled the flight of fancy that would be winning a medal.

Ireland’s eventers realised expectations yesterday when fifth in the Olympics, led by Aoife Clark and Master Crusoe, whose double clear in the show jumping phase elevated her to seventh place in the individual classification.

Nobody, with due respect to dressage rider Anna Merveldt, would expect her to win a medal in the Olympics... least of all herself.

Ireland is almost certain to have a dressage rider at the Olympics, with Anna Merveldt the likely contender.

CO DOWN show jumpers Conor Swail and Dermott Lennon continued to impact at the Toronto World Cup show in Canada, placing third and fourth, respectively, in Saturday’s Ricoh Big Ben Challenge.

EVENTER Michael Ryan is optimistic of capitalising on his decision to switch from Blair Castle to Camphire this weekend.

SENIOR rider Michael Ryan says Eventing Ireland must have good cause if it chooses to redirect the money it annually allocates for high performance.

Ireland’s show jumping team manager Robert Splaine is not expecting an easy ride today when his charges line out in the Swedish Nations Cup in Falsterbo.

SHOW jumper Cian O’Connor gave Ireland their second win at Hickstead, when racing to victory on Saturday in the Sky Sports Speed Classic.