Irish medal hopes fall apart

A battling performance by three members of Ireland’s eventing team could not make up for the elimination of two of their colleagues in yesterday’s cross-country, leaving the team in eighth place overnight.

After a disappointing display in the dressage at the weekend, Ireland lay in 10th place of the 13 countries, though Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just A Jiff) and Aoife Clark (Master Crusoe) were reasonably placed in the battle for individual honours.

Hopes were high of a strong response in yesterday’s cross-country — watched by 50,000 spectators — which is traditionally a strong phase for Ireland and much was expected of pathfinder Michael Ryan. While the Limerick man was on course to deliver, the tiring Ballylynch Adventure lacked momentum approaching the penultimate fence and stumbled, throwing the Cork-based rider to the ground to end his competition.

The course was taking its toll and, by the end of play, 15 riders had been eliminated. But Clark had no such problems. Putting in a masterful display with her 11-year-old gelding, she added just 3.6 penalties to finish the day in 21st place on 52.50pens ahead of today’s show jumping.

Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise followed suit, picking up just 4.8pens, as attention turned to Speirs to keep the momentum going. Like Ryan, however, the Kildare rider’s dream of Olympic glory was dashed when she was unseated four from home.

Mark Kyle and Coolio then answered manager Ginny Elliot’s faith by returning a third jumping clear, at a cost of 7.20pens, to ensure the team continues in the competition, but with no hope of a medal.

Meanwhile, the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s findings into Denis Lynch’s bid to be reinstated in the Olympics revealed that earlier in July, according to his lawyer, he was “preparing to sue” Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) in Germany.

Lynch had his nomination for the Games withdrawn by HSI after his horse Lantinus was disqualified in Aachen, Germany, when its legs were found to be hypersensitive. He took an appeal to CAS to be reinstated in the Games, but a three-man panel decided on Sunday the court had no jurisdiction over the case.

The CAS findings released yesterday noted that in an email from lawyer Monika Gattiker to HSI, she indicated her client, Lynch “was preparing to sue HSI in Germany because of the unacceptable consequences resulting from the Aachen ‘situation’.”