O’Flynn boosts Olympic prospects with a second

CZECH Jaroslav Hatla, riding Kyrenejennalla’s Boy, may have won the feature three-star competition at a sun-drenched Ballindenisk International Horse Trials in Cork yesterday, but it was the gutsy performance of Jane O’Flynn and Kilnadeema Star, who finished runner-up, that most warmed the attendance.

The Kildare rider was involved in a near fatal accident when competing last August. Defying logic, she has returned to competition and even has her sights set on the Olympics. Her performance at Ballindenisk would certainly have boosted her hopes of making the short list after Punchestown in June, particularly in light of the fact that it was the 13-year-old chestnut gelding’s first outing in 10 months.

In yesterday’s cross-country, O’Flynn added just two time-faults, having also jumped clear in Saturday’s show-jumping, to finish on a score of 62.3 penalties.