Ireland’s WEG goal is to secure Olympic qualification

The Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) begin in Normandy, France, today, with 21 riders carrying Irish hopes.

The team competition will be decided on Thursday, Sept 4, with manager Robert Splaine from Cork candidly admitting his main goal is to secure qualification for the Rio Olympics.

It is the first of two chances to book a place in the 2016 Games and it would bring a welcome boost after a season that sees Ireland battling relegation from division one of the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series.