Ryans ride towards Olympic dream

AS Ireland’s eventing riders go through an intensive training period in a final push to secure a team place in the Olympics, rider Michael Ryan noted how the vagaries of the sport impacted on him and his wife four years ago.

Recalling the run-up to 2008 Games, he pointed out that, though he was originally on the long-list and his wife Patricia was not, it was she who carried Irish hopes in Hong Kong.

“I had three horses on the long list at the start of the year for Hong Kong. Trish was not on the list, but by the time the Olympics came around, it was she who made the trip as, for one reason or another, my horses were not in a position to compete,” said the Limerickman.