EQUESTRIAN SPORT: Ireland's medal hopes were dashed in the three-day event at the world equestrian games in Jerez, Spain over the weekend when, despite a stunning pathfinder's clear from Jane O'Flynn on Saturday morning, falls for Eric Smiley and Sasha Harrison wiped out the team's chances.
Qualification for the 2004 Olympics in Athens was also on the Irish wish-list but that too was denied the team as, with two automatic eliminations for horse falls, the team total was increased by a massive 1,000-point penalty that left Ireland seventh and well off the pace as America, France and Britain claimed the medals.
Sixth after the dressage and within striking distance of the podium, the Irish got off to a flying start when O'Flynn steered Jinnie Webb's 11-year-old Kilnadeema Star to a sensational clear around a massive track that caused 25 falls in total. O'Flynn added 17.2 time penalties to her tally, and the optimum proved elusive throughout, with none of the 76 starters clear on the clock.
But Irish team fortunes took a rapid nose-dive shortly afterwards when a breakdown in communications at the giant Euro combination saw Smiley and Macloud on the floor. That meant Harrison and Trish Donegan, who had both excelled in the dressage, would have to retrieve the situation. But Harrison and All Love du Fenaud crashed at the eighth and the team was out of contention.
Donegan's bid for individual glory failed when Don't Step Back crumpled into the hole at the bottom of the slide and, although he remained faultless, the big grey had sliced open both elbows and was nursed the rest of the way.
The Americans, second after the dressage, had put themselves at the top of the overnight team rankings, with John Williams heading the individual placings from Australia's Phillip Dutton and Jean Teulere of France.
Irish fortunes were back on the roller-coaster yesterday morning when Vina Buller's individual ride Glencara, clear but for a run-off at the final element of the Dog Pound, failed the final horse inspection. But the other individual, Susan Shortt, another statistic from the first water complex for a frustrating 20 penalties, recorded the first of only five show jumping clears with Kieran Connors' mare Just Beauty Queen for eventual 28th place.
With stitches in both elbow wounds, Joe Savage's Don't Step Back hit four for 32nd overall. The all-important clear eluded O'Flynn too and, when a brace of rails hit the deck, Kilnadeema Star's top 20 finish looked in jeopardy. But, in a high-scoring finish, the chestnut slid just one place from his overnight 19th.
Mistakes had a more dramatic effect at the top of the pile, with Williams' four knocks dropping Carrick out of the individual medals, but still giving the Americans the team title. Phillip Dutton also plummeted, leaving Jean Teulere out in front for gold ahead of Britain's Jeanette Brakewell and Piia Pantsu of Finland.
