Cian O’Connor confident of success in St Gallen
But for the four riders involved, O’Connor, Greg Broderick, Bertram Allen, and Denis Lynch, that will be bonus territory, as winning will merely be a byproduct of their efforts to claim Ireland’s one place in the Olympics.
O’Connor agrees it’s a case of ‘all for one and each for ourselves’, but he says selection for Rio will not rest on this weekend alone. While it is the only chance manager Robert Splaine has to see the candidates on a level playing field this year, so to speak - following the cancellation of the Belgian nations cup in Lummen - performances over the past year-and-a-half must form a major element in his deliberations.
“Any time you are on the Irish team you want to go well and do the best for your country,” said O’Connor. “Obviously, though, it brings unusual pressure this time, as the four riders are competing on the team, but also are in fact competing against each other for the sole Olympic place.
“We are all experienced professionals, though, and get on really well together. I know we’ll be giving our best shot on Friday, which is why I think we’ll win.”
As for the real competition, with a ticket to Rio as the ultimate prize.
“As per the HSI selection criteria, the big decision will be with Robert, who, according to the criteria, will take in past and current form, which obviously means that St Gallen will be the final viewing, but only part of a bigger picture that stretches back to the start of last year.
“At the end of the day, it’s not as easy as looking at clear rounds on paper. Scores count, obviously, but Robert will have to select using all his experience, looking for a rider with a winning mindset, experience, ability and reliability, and one who can deliver at the highest level over five grueling rounds at the Olympics.
“This weekend is the first time that all four riders will face an equal task. It’s an opportunity for Robert, but it’s only one piece in a bigger jigsaw.”
Two things stand out in terms of selection: That this is about rider/horse combinations and not about winning competitions with multiple horses; plus previous performances at championship level.
At last year’s Furusiyya Nations Cup final in Barcelona, Spain, over a course measuring 1.60mtr, the scores were: Allen and Molly Malone (5/8), O’Connor and Good Luck (4/0), Broderick and MHS Going Global (5/4) and Lynch (4/8). You could argue that O’Connor has the edge, but Lynch went on to win the 1.55m grand prix at the event, posting a double clear.
In the nations cup element of last year’s European Championships in Aachen, Germany, the scores were Allen (4/4), Broderick (8/4), Lynch (4/0), while O’Connor had 0/4, the error not of his own making, though, with an errant steward running in front of him to blame.
This year, Lynch has been tipping away with All Star, notably putting in a good display at the World Cup final (though that’s indoors), and jumping a double clear last month at a cost of a single time fault in the Hamburg grand prix. Allen has rejected suggestions that Molly Malone has gone off the boil, and he jumped 0/4 in the Hamburg GP, but the 20-year-old will need to prove emphatically this weekend that he and the mare can deliver when the pressure is on. St Gallen will be Broderick’s first major outing in some time with Going Global, so he has it all to do.
As for O’Connor, he returned to Europe from a three-month stint at the Winter Equestrian Festival, putting in some impressive performances with Good Luck, including placing second in a million dollar grand prix in some hot company. The Lummen cancellation meant he lost out on an opportunity to emphasise his claim on European soil for a chance to better the bronze medal he won in London, so he will be hoping to peak this weekend in Alpine territory.
Of course, Sunday’s grand prix will also come into play for Splaine, who has one decision to make regarding one rider and one horse.
He will make his decision next week contacting the rider between Tuesday and Friday, with Horse Sport Ireland formally presenting the nomination to the FEI on June 20.
It shouldn’t be too difficult, should it?
- Eventing and Olympics also features this weekend at Tattersalls. Ireland has qualified a team for Rio and riders will make a final bid to present their credentials to manager Nick Turner.
The CIC three-star competition begins today at the Meath venue, where Sam Watson will be hoping to get back on track on his European Championships mount Horseware Lukeswell, following a disappointing display at Belton in April. Others in the mix are Jonty Evans (Cooley Rorke’s Drift), Mark Kyle (Jemilla), Clare Abbott (Euro Prince), Padraig McCarthy (Simon Porloe and Bernadette Utopia), Michael Ryan (Ballylynch Adventure), Austin O’Connor (Balham Houdini and Kilpatrick Knight), Mark Kyle (Jemilla), Cathal Daniels (Rioghan Rua), and Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just A Jiff).
Australia’s Samantha Birch produced a spectacular dressage test yesterday with Hunter Valley II to grab the lead in the CCI three-star class on 43.90 penalties, with Tipperary’’s Padraig McCarthy just 0.8pens adrift in second place with Mr Chunky on 44.70pens, followed by Britain’s Ollie Townend riding Dunbeau on 45.40pens. Cork’s Patricia Ryan (Dunrath Eclipse) lies fourth on 45.80pens.
Sarah Ennis is also knocking on the door in terms of the Olympics on Horseware Stellor Rebound and the pair lie eighth on 48.60pens, as she aims to better her third place in 2014
