The Irish Show Jumping team of Denis Lynch, Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor and Daniel Coyle, secured qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris at the weekend, by finishing fourth in the World Show Jumping Championships in Denmark.
At the end of a thrilling nights, Ireland climbed from overnight ninth place to take one of the five Olympic places on offer – and at the finish, missed out on the bronze medal by just one penalty.
The top 10 teams from the 22 that started the week made it through to the final under floodlights, with Ireland starting the evening in ninth place overall, carrying forward a score of 17.15 penalties from the first two rounds held on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch was first to jump for Michael Blake’s Ireland with his Rome Grand Prix winner Brooklyn Heights. The World No.25 produced an excellent round, jumping clear over the fences, picking up just one time fault over what was proving a very difficult course.
Wexford’s Bertram Allen then gave Ireland another huge boost when he jumped an outstanding clear round with The Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro. Those rounds from Lynch and Allen moved Ireland up five places to fourth with two riders left to jump for each of the 10 teams.
Third to go for Ireland, Meath’s Cian O’Connor and C Vier 2 were clear until the penultimate combination where they had one fence down and picked up one time fault for a five fault score. That score from O’Connor would prove vital, as Derry’s Daniel Coyle had a couple of fences down with Legacy, after which Coyle decided to retire knowing he couldn’t improve Ireland’s score.
As the course continued to take it’s toll on the world’s top horses and riders, Ireland continued to climb the leaderboard and when the last horse crossed the finish beam, Ireland could celebrate an outstanding fourth place finish and a team ticket to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
“Obviously we are delighted to take an Olympic qualification place at the very first opportunity as it now gives us two full years to prepare for the Games,” said Team Manager Michael Blake.
“It is slightly bittersweet as we came so close to winning a medal. It certainly was an exciting competition and all our guys fought hard to climb from ninth overall and finish in the top four.”
“Huge congratulations to Michael Blake and his team on a fantastic performance at the World Championships and in gaining Olympic qualification,” added Horse Sport Ireland CEO Denis Duggan.
“To qualify here at the very first opportunity against all of the top teams in the world, is hugely significant, as it gives us as much time as possible to prepare for Paris. I want also thank all of the owners of these horses that represent Ireland, the grooms, and all those working behind the scenes at home and here in Herning.”
The team will have an opportunity for a heroes welcome back home this week when they return to compete in the Longines Nations Cup at the RDS, the high point of this week’s Dublin Horse Show.
