Poor dressage phase dents Irish chances

IRELAND’S eventing high performance coach Ginny Elliot put a brave face on Ireland’s Olympic prospects after the team finished the dressage phase 10th of 11 teams in Hong Kong.

With the team hoping to improve their position today on the cross-country, in which Ireland are traditionally strong, Elliot said: “Remember, we are just 60 penalties behind the leaders. Sixty penalties is equivalent to one fall or three refusals. Anything can happen at this stage of the event and I would rather we fought back from this position, which we are capable of doing, rather than fall from a higher one. There’s a lot of work to do on the cross-country course, but I’m still very positive,” she said.

Waterford’s Captain Geoff Curran (Kilkishen) and Cork woman Patricia Ryan (Fernhill Clover Mist), in particular, had forgettable performances, with Elliot citing a large video screen by the arena as the main culprit.

“About one horse in every team was affected by this. The score screens and video screens are usually much, much higher, but here they were almost at eye level and they had a disturbing effect on Kilkishen and Fernhill Clover Mist during their tests. Horses are unpredictable animals and you cannot anticipate something like this.”

Ryan’s score of 78.70 left her second last of the 69 competitors in the individual rankings, while 61.70 penalties saw Curran in 59th place.

Austin O’Connor scored 52.80 penalties with Hobby du Mee to lie in 42nd place, while Louise Lyons and Watership Down ended on 57.40 penalties, which left them in 55th position.

Ireland saved the best until last, however, as Niall Griffin exceeded expectations with a score of 50.60 penalties on Lorgaine, leaving him in 35th place.

“He blew up going into the arena. He felt like he just wanted to explode, so I thought: well I can either kick him forward and tell him to get on with it or just give up altogether and accept that it’s going to be a disaster,” said the Wexford rider, whose decision to go for the first option saw the experienced gelding focused on his job.

“It was a risk, but it was worth taking,” said Griffin, who felt the cross-country course would suit his horse “because he locks onto his fences and he’s adjustable”.

With Ireland on 160.80 penalties it will be all about regaining respect over the next few days. The battle for medals is close, with Australia on 102.60, just eight more than Germany, with the US a further five back.

The competition concludes tomorrow with the show jumping phase.

Meanwhile, show jumper Denis Lynch arrives in Hong Kong today, undertaking a warm-up class tonight with Lantinus.