Burke shines for Ireland in Aachen

MARIE BURKE, riding Chippison, proved an able replacement for Cian O’Connor yesterday when best of the Irish on the opening day of show jumping at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

The Clare rider was drafted into the team yesterday morning by manager Robert Splaine, after he withdrew O’Connor when his horse Waterford Crystal picked up a slight injury in a practice session on Monday.

Yesterday, she showed her value when jumping clear to place ninth of 116 starters to help put Ireland in eighth place in a contest that featured 25 countries.

Next best of the Irish quartet in yesterday’s competition — a speed class in which faults are penalised in time — was Shane Breen on World Cruise, the Tipperary rider having four faults to place 31st. Mayo’s Cameron Hanley (SIEC Hippica Kerman) also had four to place 42nd and Cheshire-based Cork man Billy Twomey (Luidam) finished in 68th place with two down. Ireland are on 11.08 penalties, with the Netherlands in the lead on 6.01. The US follows in 6.85, with Brazil third on 6.99.

The team competition enters its second phase today with the first round of the nations cup. This is followed by the deciding second round tomorrow night and, while Splaine said he was disappointed at having to withdraw O’Connor, the performance of Burke yesterday ensured he had confidence she would prove equal to the task.

“Cian and the other riders took part in a practice session on Monday, following which Waterford Crystal was found to be lame. After he was examined by team vet Marcus Swail, it was decided to withdraw the horse,” said Splaine.

“While Cian’s horse is good today, this is a strenuous competition, so we felt it would be too much of a risk to use him. Since Marie performed so well in the grand prix at Dublin Horse Show [she placed third], it made our decision easier,” said the Cork man.

Splaine will be hoping for a top-five finish to achieve Olympic qualification and said: “They were all solid enough in the first competition. They rode well and the horses jumped well. I think I can sit down reasonably satisfied going into the nations cup.”

Ireland jump in 21st place today and the order is: Breen, Burke, Twomey and Hanley. Yesterday’s competition was won by American Beezie Madden (Authentic), Canadian Eric Lamaze (Hickstead) second and Holland’s Gerco Schroder (Eurocommerce Berlin).