EQUESTRIAN:THE FEI, equestrian sport's international governing body, yesterday confirmed that Ireland would have a full team of five in the eventing competition at the London Olympics, as some riders from qualified countries had failed to meet the eligibility requirements by the weekend deadline.
Horse Sport Ireland’s eventing high performance manager Ginny Elliot will nominate the five combinations for the places to the Olympic Council of Ireland on July 2nd following the Barbury Castle international horse trials, which finish the day before. A longlist of 10 riders and 11 horses was announced recently.
HSI chairman Joe Walsh said he was delighted Ireland could send a full team to the games.
“I want to thank all the owners and riders who made such a commitment to pursue the team qualification,” he said, also giving credit to high performance coaches Elliot, Ian Fearon and Ferdi Eilberg; team vet Marcus Swail; high performance advisers Jean Mitchell and Jessica Harrington; and David Lee and Janet Murray of Eventing Ireland.
Walsh said the support of the Irish Sports Council, Eventing Ireland and the Olympic Council of Ireland had also been vital.
SHORTLISTED COMBINATIONS(alphabetical order): Aoife Clark (Master Crusoe), Capt Geoff Curran (Shanaclough Crecora and The Jump Jet), Jayne Doherty (Ravenstar), Sarah Ennis (Sugar Brown Babe), Mark Kyle (Coolio), Joseph Murphy (Electric Cruise), Elizabeth Power (September Bliss), Michael Ryan (Ballylynch Adventure), Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just a Jiff), Sam Watson (Horseware Bushman). Ireland have also secured two places in show jumping, one in dressage, one in modern pentathlon, as well as four places in the Paralympics.
