Splaine bemoans bad luck as Irish down to last chance for Rio

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine spoke yesterday of "sacrifices" made in preparation for the Alltech World Equestrian Games, but they counted for nought as the team failed to secure a place in the Rio Olympics.

Darragh Kenny, Denis Lynch, Cameron Hanley and Bertram Allen finished in seventh place, when one place better would have put them among the five qualifying countries joined by Olympic hosts Brazil.

Splaine said that with some luck the previous day they could actually have been in the hunt for a medal.

“We were one of the better teams here today and to finish one place out of the Olympic qualification zone was very disappointing. I’m gutted for the lads, as their effort was tremendous. Our year was planned around the world championships and sacrifices were made so that the best possible effort could be made at these championships. We fielded the best possible team which, but for a little hard luck yesterday, could have been challenging for a medal.”

Ten countries contested yesterday’s second round in Caen, with the Netherlands pipping hosts France, and the US taking the bronze medal, a mere 0.10 penalties ahead of Germany, followed by Brazil, while agonisingly, Ireland were less than a single fence behind sixth-place Sweden.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Imothep opened with just one time fault, before Wexford teenager Bertram Allen and Molly Malone dropped a single fence. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and All Star 5 raised hopes with a clear round, but Mayo’s Cameron Hanley and Antello Z came home with nine faults.

Lynch (19th), Allen (20th) and Kenny (24th) are among the top 30 — led by American Beezie Madden (Cortes C) — contesting tomorrow’s first qualifying round for the individual title, with the top four going into Sunday’s final.

“Some of the performances were world-class, as evidenced by our having three riders in the top 30,” said Splaine. “The competition is intense at this level but we have riders well capable of competing with the best. We appreciate the generosity of the owners and the efforts of the riders. This level of support augurs well for the future.”

The Corkman will be hoping that future will be brighter next year when the European Championships present the second and final chance to qualify for the Olympics.

More immediately, he will also be hoping results in next month’s Furusiyya Series final in Barcelona go Ireland’s way and they avoid relegation, which would amount to a real sacrifice in light of yesterday’s result.

- Sarah Ennis arrived from WEG at her Meath base at 11pm on Monday and, such is her dedication, 12 hours later, she was at Ballindenisk for the announcement of details of the Johnson and Perrott Land Rover International Horse Trials (Sept 18-21).

The team qualified for the Rio Olympics with a sixth-place finish, yet Ennis said each member had mixed feelings, relief and joy for qualifying, but a “roller-coaster” ride for each at one stage or another. Her own experience is illustrative. A great dressage counted for little when she had two run-outs in the cross-country with Horseware Stellor Rebound.

However, she believes more cross-country training is required for the Irish squad.

“It would be great to have more funding for training. I feel we have no cross-country training. We have an amazing show jumping instructor in Ian Fearon, We do get dressage lessons, be it through ourselves or HSI, but there is a gaping void in the cross-country section,” said Ennis.

Ballindenisk continues to draw big names, including a first-time visit for four-time Olympic medallist Andrew Hoy and perennial raider Oliver Townend. Three members of the Irish WEG team, Aoife Clark, Joseph Murphy and Sam Watson, also line out.

(Read Ennis’s description of Fearon as the force that drives the Irish team, describing him as a “genius”).

- The Irish Breeders Classic takes place at Barnadown, Co Wexford, this weekend, with a prize fund of €50,000.

Billed as the “richest young-horse show jumping competition in the world”, the contest for horses aged five and six has attracted 95 entries, among them Ard Ginger Pop, which has a string of good results under rider Ger O’Neill. The chestnut mare is also one of the lots on offer in tonight’s Goresbridge select sale.

The final of the National Grand Prix League is another highlight and Alexander Butler will be aiming to fend off the challenge of Vincent Byrne and Greg Broderick.

- The Horse Sport Ireland Amateur Championships final will be the centrepiece of the popular White’s Cross Charity Show on Sunday. With €2,500 in prizes on offer, it is set to be keenly contested.

The show takes place at the Munster Agricultural Society grounds in Curraheen Rd, Cork, and has a number of classes offering €1,000 prizefunds. These include a 90cms class for 128cms ponies, sponsored by Hennessy Service Station, a 1.10m competition for 148cms ponies, sponsored by Day Break Ireland, a 90cms horse final with prizes in kind sponsored by O’Brien Saddlery, Bandon, along with a 1.10m horse grand prix, courtesy of Lucky Meadows, Watergrasshil.

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