Lynch enters vital jumping round today

Shortly after 12 noon today, Ireland's sole show jumping representative at the Olympic Games, Denis Lynch, enters the arena in Hong Kong to jump the round that might qualify him for the Olympic final.

Carrying just two time faults and lying in equal fourth overall, the Tipperary man and the gelding 'Lantinus' must finish in the top 35 by the end of the day if they are to qualify for next Thursday's final, where the medals will be decided.

Though a favourite to make it through today's third qualifying round, the course will be completely different from the one he jumped clear yesterday, adding just one time fault.

Irish team manager Robert Splaine said: "There is still a lot of big, serious jumping to be done today".

Lynch will be 13th of 51 riders to compete this afternoon.