O’Connor primed for big show as Lynch appeal founders

“I am up for it now more than ever.”

That was the response of show jumper Cian O’Connor last night after Denis Lynch lost his appeal to be reinstated in the Olympics.

Lynch had taken his fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after having his name withdrawn by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), who installed O’Connor and Blue Loyd in his place. The HSI countered at the hearing on Saturday night that a time limit had been passed. After five hours of deliberation, a three-man CAS panel agreed it did not have jurisdiction to rule on the case.