Twomey sets podium target

Anyone who would know Billy Twomey would not be surprised to hear the Corkman declare he was in London to win a medal.

Twomey has spent his life savouring success and has shone as brightly as any of the stars of show jumping.

No reason to doubt him, then, when he says a podium finish is possible and that his mare Tinka’s Serenade is reason enough to be confident ahead of today’s opening contest.

“My goal is to win a medal. There is no point in being here, otherwise. I think it is within our capability,” said Twomey. The first aim is to get to Wednesday’s last 35 and then it is like a grand prix, where you start on a zero score, and she has won grands prix all over the world, so you never know. I’d like to think I have a winning mentality, anyway.”

In last year’s European Championships, Twomey was in the silver medal position and flying high after two textbook displays, only for aspirations to dissipate in the penultimate round.

“Sure, the second last day in the Europeans was bad, but horses are not machines. It can be hard to have them exactly as you want them. It is not always set in stone that things will go as you like. She’s got all the experience. She’s been consistent for a long time. It’s not like I’m coming here looking for a bit of form,” said Twomey.

Today’s curtain-raiser is the first of five rounds, followed tomorrow and Monday by the battle for team glory. These also count towards individual honours and the best 35 riders — with a maximum of three from each nation — progressing to the fourth round.

The 75 riders and their horses got a feel for the arena yesterday evening in a training session and Ireland’s second competitor Cian O’Connor, who rides Blue Loyd, was upbeat.

“Blue went well. He’s in good form, feels fresh and is ready for a long week’s jumping. He’s always a little bit fresh at big competitions and, each day, he settles down to his job and I am looking forward to the challenge. It’s all about getting to the last day and start on zero.”

Twomey, 35, hails from Monkstown, just outside Cork city, but now runs two yards, one in Cheshire and a second in Nottinghamshire. Home-turf advantage?

“I suppose the logistics, from that perspective, make it very easy for me, but then again it’s not so difficult either for the continental nations, who don’t have that far to travel.

“Tinka came down the early hours of Thursday morning. I wanted her to be in her own environment as long as possible, but, in saying that, the facilities here are fantastic, you couldn’t want for anything else,” he said.