WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES:THE FINAL round of the team show jumping championships at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games was held in the Kentucky Horse Park yesterday evening but Ireland didn't make the last 10, having finished 12th of the 27 squads which started the competition.

Two of the country’s riders, Billy Twomey and Cian O’Connor, qualified on Tuesday for the individual championships but the latter declined to take up his place with K Club Lady as the 11-year-old mare twisted a fetlock and on veterinary advice was rested for the remainder of the Games. Twomey qualified in 13th position with Tinka’s Serenade on a score of 5.54 faults with the leader, Khaled Al Eid representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, going through on 2.20 with Presley Boy.

Team Ireland equestrian’s show jumping manager Robert Splaine said afterwards: “World championships are by definition the most difficult of competitions, but the fact we did not make the cut for the final team round was very disappointing. We will now have to regroup and reorganise for our next Olympic qualifying opportunity which will be the European championships in Madrid next year.

“Billy had a superb clear round with Tinka’s Serenade and Cian had just one fence down with K Club Lady. It’s unfortunate Cian will not be able to compete any further, but Billy Twomey has the ability to be a real threat as he’s in 13th place overall, just over one fence off the leader.”

Irish-born Gerry Flynn, a former rider with the Army Equitation School now representing Turkey, also made it through to last night’s competition.

In para-dressage, Ireland’s James Dwyer riding Orlando finished fifth of 18 yesterday on a mark of 66.065 per cent in his Grade IV class behind Britain’s Sophie Wells who achieved 71.677 with Pinocchio.