Ireland’s eventers book Olympic slot
The team were 12th after dressage, but battled through an uncompromising cross-country on Saturday that resulted in 27 combinations eliminated, withdrawn or retired, leaving them in sixth place going into yesterday’s show jumping.
Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound were among those to find the cross-country tough, but completed the course and bounced back to get the team off to a good start in the show jumping, knocking the last fence and adding a single time fault.
Joseph Murphy also suffered two cross-country refusals with Electric Cruise, but further bolstered the cause yesterday with a clear.
Aoife Clark and Fenyas Elegance — owned and bred by Corkman PJ Hegarty — proved the best of the Irish at the close of play, when finishing 21st after adding four show jumping faults and, while anchorman Sam Watson suffered a refusal with Horseware Bushman on the way to accumulating 21 faults, the team total of 319.3 penalties proved good enough to fend off Canada, who finished 36.7 penalties adrift.
Germany dominated the competition, led by Sandra Auffarth, whose big jumping chestnut Opgun Louvo also secured her the individual title.
The 2011 European silver medalist took gold this time when Britain’s William Fox-Pitt lowered the second fence on Chilli Morning, a mistake that relegated him to the bronze medal position behind Germany’s Michael Jung on Fischerrocana. England took the team silver.
In the US, Darragh Kenny gave himself the perfect filip by winning the $40,000 Longines Cup at the Hampton Classic with Picolo, having days previously won the $20,000 Hampton Classic Jumper Challenge.
Kenny flew to Normandy on Saturday night where he joined Bertram Allen, Cameron Hanley, Denis Lynch, and reserve Conor Swail on the Irish team. Manager Robert Splaine is banking on a top-five finish to secure a ticket to Rio. The competition begins tomorrow with a speed class.
On the domestic front, Greg Broderick secured the Horseware/TRM Premier Series when second in yesterday’s final at Coilog, Co Kildare.
The Tipperary rider was in a near-unassailable position going into the €10,000 competition, but his main rivals Gerard Clarke and Joan Greene did not figure in the shake-up.
Broderick produced a steady clear with Javas Keltic Mist to take the lead when second to go, knowing he had the impressive MHS Going Global primed for later in the seven-horse jump-off.
Alexander Butler and Vimminka then knocked six seconds of Broderick’s target with a performance that ultimately proved to be the only other double clear and good enough for victory as Broderick’s highly-rated second ride incurred an uncharacteristic four faults.
The result was a reversal of the previous day’s National Grand Prix League contest, where Broderick and Rincarina came out ahead of Butler aboard Will Wimble.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
