MATT RYAN, Australia's double gold medallist in the Olympic three day event four years ago, is out of the Atlanta Games following the withdrawal of his horse Hinnegar. Ryan's exit from the competition comes hot on the heels of the departure of New Zealand's Mark Todd, Olympic champion in 1984 and 88 who withdrew his individual hope Kayem last week.
The Australian selectors pulled Hinnegar out of the team late on Sunday night, leaving the decision until the last minute in the hope that the horse would recover from a bruised foot. The gelding has been re shod three times, but was "obviously sore", according to his 32 year old jockey.
Under new rules brought in since the introduction of the separate team and individual competitions at Olympic level, the Australians were allowed to bring in a substitute and Ryan's place has now been filled by Gill Rolton, a member of the 1992 gold medal winning team. Andrew Roy, who was also on the Barcelona squad, will now ride in both the team and individual competitions, drafting in his Luhmuhlen winner Gershwin for the individual.
Ryan, whose individual victory in Barcelona paved the way for the Australian team triumph to mirror the double gold of 1960, was visibly devastated by his dramatic reversal of fortune since winning the Blarney international last month in the build up to Atlanta.
"It's very romantic talking about me defending my title", he said yesterday, "but that's horses for you. You always run the risk of picking up a minor injury when you're working a horse so hard and it just all fell apart in the last few days."
Unfortunately, the Irish camp has been experiencing similar problems and our individual hopes have been halved by the withdrawal of Mark Barry's horse Unisson Collonges yesterday afternoon. The French bred gelding, which earned its Olympic ticket when finishing 13th at the French three star fixture in Saumur three months ago, was also suffering from a bruised sole and the decision to withdraw was made literally moments before yesterday's horse inspection for the individual runners.
The Limerick jockey, who celebrates his 24th birthday on Sunday, has been dogged by bad luck throughout his eventing career, with veterinary problems affecting his horses at junior, young rider and senior level. Last year, an error off course on the steeplechase resulted in his elimination when Barry was drawn number one at the European championships.
But the Irish team riders have been giving their utmost in the search for that still elusive Olympic medal and our number four, Eric Smiley, sliced more than 10 penalties off his Barcelona Games mark with the experienced Enterprise. The grey lost marks after changing legs in the first counter canter - a mistake he has not made since the 1992 Olympics - for a score of 54.6 that leaves the Irish on a team total of 168 penalties.
Alfie Buller, running number three of the Irish, was disappointed not to repeat his Badminton dressage mark with Sir Knight, but both he and the horse fed off each other's nerves and the resulting tension was reflected in the score of 74.6, with the thoroughbred failing to settle and produce the work he is undoubtedly capable of.
The Irish score of 167.6 leaves the quartet 11th of the 16 teams, with the Americans unassailable at the top, although the British are less than five penalties adrift in second, with the New Zealanders overhauling the Canadians for third.
Temperatures soared during yesterday afternoon's dressage, with the main arena living up to its nickname of the Atlanta oven. Conditions are expected to be similar for today's cross-country.
