WATCH: Steward costs Ireland Rio Olympics spot

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is to “exhaust every possible avenue of appeal” after its protest over interference by a steward to Cian O’Connor’s round in the European Show Jumping Championships was last night rejected.

The interference caused O’Connor to knock a fence at the championships in Aachen, Germany, ultimately denying Ireland a place in next year’s Olympics.

The London Olympics bronze medallist was cruising to a clear round with Good Luck, but, as he turned to the last line of fences, a steward ran in front of him, then leapt into a flowerbed in a bid to get out of the way.