Rider’s bid to reclaim Olympic place could unseat O’Connor

Show jumper Cian O’Connor’s bid for Olympic redemption hangs in the balance after Denis Lynch made a dramatic last-ditch bid to be reinstated in the Games.

Tipperary rider Mr Lynch stunned the equestrian world yesterday when he asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to consider the withdrawal of his Olympic nomination by Horse Sport Ireland, after his horse Lantinus was disqualified at the German Nations Cup show in Aachen.

His brother and manager Shay Lynch confirmed that, initially, an appeal had been submitted to Switzerland at 12pm yesterday, but efforts were being made last night to refile the application to CAS’s ad hoc division in London, the correct route for an Olympic appeal.

Shay Lynch said his brother “would not have submitted the appeal unless he felt there was a reasonable chance of success”.

“If it is successful, his nomination must go forward again and he would intend to compete in the Olympics. He is on his way to Spain, to compete, but is ready to travel to London at short notice.”

While the Olympics begins in earnest tomorrow, the show jumping does not start until a week later, and CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said the appeal process could be fast-tracked.

“We have 12 arbitrators on standby,” he said. “A panel of three are picked to hear the case and the hearing would be organised as soon as possible... So, if we receive notification by Friday, the case can be heard almost on the same day.”

Mr O’Connor was substituted in place of Lynch, ironically, as both riders’ names are embedded in the public consciousness as a result of Olympic controversy.

Mr Lynch was selected to represent Ireland in London, along with Billy Twomey, but days after their unveiling, Lantinus was disqualified at the Nations Cup in Germany after its legs were found to be hypersensitive. A Horse Sport Ireland panel was not satisfied with Mr Lynch’s explanation on Jul 9, and withdrew his nomination.

Mr Lynch came under public scrutiny in the 2008 Olympics after Lantinus was disqualified with the German-based rider on the cusp of winning a medal, while Mr O’Connor won gold in the 2004 Olympics, only to lose it after his horse tested positive for banned substances.

A Horse Sport Ireland spokesman last night noted “it is now 17 days since the decision in respect of Denis Lynch was taken and one day before the Olympic Games begin”.