Eventers on the cusp of world glory going into final phase

IRISH eventers are in team silver and individual bronze positions going into today’s final showjumping phase at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA.

Strong dressage performances were backed up by three superb clear rounds over Saturday’s cross-country course to leave the team less than nine penalty points behind Great Britain but only 1.80 ahead of France in bronze.

And Sarah Ennis is less than a fence behind Germany’s Ingrid Klinke and Britain’s Ros Canter at the top of the individual rankings, while Padraig McCarthy is in seventh place, also less than a fence behind the leader.

Sam Watson and Horseware Ardagh Highlight set the pace with a blazing tour of the cross-country track that caught out many of the major contenders. And when both McCarthy and Mr Chunky, and Ennis with Horseware Stellor Rebound also returned a clean sheet to go with Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua’s 3.6 time faults, the team rocketed up from seventh to silver.

Drop

Individual rider Trish Ryan added 47.8 penalties to drop to 64th with Dunrath Eclipse.

Although the threat of Hurricane Florence has diminished, the showjumping phase was postponed until today as heavy rain was forecast for yesterday.

Eventing chef d’equipe Sally Corscadden attributed the team’s success to the extra work put into crosscountry training.

“We had a fantastic preparation; they just needed to believe in themselves,” she said.

Any more than two showjumping errors today from the British could give Ireland team gold.

Ireland has been on the World Championships podium only three times. Virginia Freeman-Jackson, Penny Moreton, Eddie Boylan and Tommy Brennan claimed gold at the inaugural event in 1966 when Freeman-Jackson also took individual bronze. And in 1978, Watson’s father, John, took individual silver.

Meanwhile, dressage rider Judy Reynolds was left disappointed when the Freestyle to Music was cancelled. She was the first Irish rider ever to qualify.