Ireland's showjumpers secure Olympic place at World Championships

Shane Sweetnam also qualified for Sunday's individual Worlds

Shane Sweetnam in action at the RDS. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy

Ireland's showjumping team has secured Olympic qualification having finished seventh at the FEI World Championships in Aachen.

The Irish team picked up the final qualification spot for LA behind Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland and France. USA are already through as the host nation.

Home team Germany took gold at the Worlds, ahead of Belgium, with Great Britain taking bronze.

Ireland's task was made more difficult when Darragh Kenny’s Eddy Blue had to withdraw from the final round. But each of Ireland's three riders - Cian O'Connor on Chatolinue PS, Bertram Allen on Qonquest de Rigo and Shane Sweetnam on CFS James Kann Cruz - had just one fence down to secure qualification in seventh place.

Individually, Sweetnam placed 17th to qualify for Sunday's individual World Championship final among the top 25. Cian O'Connor was 31st with Bertram Allen 35th.