O'Connor to fight to keep Waterford Crystal

Olympic gold medallist Cian O'Connor has revealed that he only planned on keeping his Athens champion gelding 'Waterford Crystal' until after his debut Games.

Kildare-born O'Connor, the proud holder of Ireland's eigth Olympic gold medal since Dr. Pat O'Callaghan's victory in the hammer in Amsterdam in 1928, rode his German-bred mount to a stunning clear round tonight.

"I bought him from Germany four years ago, and I arranged to have him only until after these Olympics," stated the 24-year-old, "so now I'll have to talk with the owner and see what I can do in order to keep him!"

The 13-year-old, sired by Landgraf I, is currently jointly-owned by O'Connor's sponsors Independent News and Media and Waterford Crystal.

O'Connor, who runs Karlswood stables in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, was fulsome in his praise of his bay mount.

"He has been good and consistent all along. He's been jumping well all year, in the Nation's Cup in Rome and in Aachen, so I could say that everything came off of the day.

"He gave everything he had. Actually, the track suited me. I was very happy to pass the line of fences that everybody was afraid of. I felt very confident after the first round."

32 of the final 77 riders entered in the individual competition rode horses bred in Germany, the home of the three-time Olympic team show jumping champions.