O’Connor confident Irish can battle back

Cian O’Connor was confident last night that Ireland’s show jumping team can battle back in the European Championships today in Aachen, Germany, to secure Olympic qualification.

The team go into today’s final round in ninth place overall, but, more importantly, in fifth place of those countries chasing the three Rio tickets up for grabs.

However, O’Connor, Denis Lynch, Greg Broderick and Bertram Allen are just one fence adrift of Denmark and Spain, with Switzerland also vulnerable in overnight sixth place. Reigning Olympic champions Britain lie fourth and are almost assured of qualification for next year’s Games.