LAST UPDATE | 1 Aug 2024
IRELAND’S SHOWJUMPERS WILL go for gold in Paris on Friday after booking their place in the Olympic team final.
The Irish team of Shane Sweetnam, Daniel Coyle and Cian O’Connor finished sixth out of 20 teams in Thursday’s qualifying round at the Chateau de Versailles, comfortably inside the top 10 finalists.
Sweetnam and his horse James Kann Cruz were first up for Ireland, picking up four faults in a time of 75.22, before Daniel Coyle and Legacy produced a clear round in 75.83.
“That’s a solid start, he jumped great,” Sweetnam said. “I suppose that was a cheap rail down for us but it’s a solid score and if we can have three rounds like that we’ll be fine for the top 10.
“It’s a very technical course, very light and obviously there’s a lot of different colours he wouldn’t have seen before, different jumps he wouldn’t have seen before and that’s always a tricky part of it so it’s not too easy to get a clear round.
“It’s hot out there, it’s a lot different to Galway, where he’s bred – but he’s used to it, being based in Florida and been to Kentucky a lot so while it’s early yet, so far so good.”
O’Connor on Maurice was the last of the trio to compete, finishing with four faults as well as one time fault in 79.17.
“Shane got us off to a great start and Daniel’s mare was sensational,” O’Connor said.
“There’s something different about the three-man format – you saw Peder Fredricson nipped out at the wall and it’s very nearly cost (Sweden) dearly so I want to be safe, get round in one piece and have a go at it tomorrow.
“Top ten finish was the aim of the day today – whether you finish first or tenth it’s just to determine the order of jumping so we didn’t put too much pressure on ourselves. We’ll have a good chat tonight and hopefully we’ll have a few more clears tomorrow.”
Ireland’s combined total of nine penalties and 230.22 saw them finish in sixth, with Germany the only team of the 20 to produce three clear rounds.
USA qualified in second place with six penalties, while Great Britain were third on eight penalties, finishing just ahead of Belgium and the Netherlands on time.
Scores do not carry into tomorrow’s final, where the three members of each team will jump again to decide the medal placings.
The final begins at 1pm Irish time on Friday.
RiP Anna K. other threads blocked.
@Damian Moylan: hear, hear
https://www.gofundme.com/f/1sc9471cmo
Please if you have a chance
If George Hamilton mentions Allison’s lack of clean sheets once more tonight, I’ll make my way to Anfield to personally shove Hamilton’s hands up his own h0le
@Ian Synnott: that’s oddly specific
@Ave it: Hamilton is being very specific about Allison’s lack of clean sheets.
@Ian Synnott: and fireworks…
@Ian Synnott: cant listen to him anymore. Surely he means liverpool’s and not Allison’s. The man had like 22 of them last season. Has played f all this year. This must be why your upset ha.
@Ave it: whilst failing to recognize that this he has only played 4 games this season
@Ian Synnott: I was talking about the hands…
@Ave it: ah sure, why not
@Yorkie1892: Might as well just send him out to watch the fireworks. Lug
Jürgen Flopp
@Joe Shea: well I don’t know what you consider a flop, but I’ll have plenty more of it.
Just look at the style of football being played man.
@Joe Shea: Good man Joe.
@Logan Shepherd: fair play logan
@Joe Shea: He has 1 less UCL trophy than Fergie from about a quarter of the attempts. Fergie, 2 from 19 = PALTRY!
@Roger Paltry: don’t u bring utd into this… That’s not fair .. Ur playing dirty
@Joe Shea: Do you do live gigs Joe. You’re so funny and so original. I’d say it would be a great night.
@Logan Shepherd: a joke is only as good as a laugh or is it other way around
@Roger Paltry: Klopp lost 8 finals in a row before he won one …. you make me laugh Wroger !
@Scott Stonebridge: #fakenews. Klopp won his first final.
Someone get Keith Andrews off commentary
@Brian McGuinness: He’s an abomination,how in the hell did he ever become analyst. The muck put of him. With his Tod Flanders hair cut.
@Brian McGuinness: he’s not as bad as David myler
@Declan O Toole: He’s chronic
@Declan O Toole: Todd Flanders! Brilliant
@Ian Synnott: Ha ha
Can’t beat an Ox in the box.
3-1 Genk
@Fergus O’Connor: draw for sure
@Joe Shea: I see all the pundits are online tonight.
@Fergus O’Connor: Genk are not that good!
@Damian Moylan: No 1-1
Clean sheets this season is very bad. Easy goals from set pieces conceded again.
@Yorkie1892: yeah. Definitely needs ti be tightened up quick. Especially going into crimbo fixtures. Forwards get tired and cant always bail out.
Gomez and Keita not good enough for Liverpool.