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Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz finished in 22nd place overall. Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Irish duo miss out on the medals in individual jumping final

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, and Daniel Coyle and Legacy, couldn’t find the clear rounds they needed to challenge.

IRELAND’S SHANE SWEETNAM and Daniel Coyle missed out on the medal jump-off in Tuesday morning’s Olympic individual jumping final at the Chateau de Versailles.

Cork’s Sweetnam and Derry’s Coyle finished in second and third place overall after brilliant performances in Monday’s qualification round, leaving them second- and third-last in the start list for the final.

With Germany’s Christian Kukuk, Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands, and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat all jumping clear rounds, both Sweetnam and Coyle knew exactly what was required to join them in the podium decider.

Coyle and his horse Legacy, who have impressed all week in Paris, looked poised to join them as they survived an early wobble to go clear through the opening 11 fences of a challenging final course.

But as they neared the finish, Legacy’s fore leg knocked the first fence in the decisive final line and then lost momentum with poles down at each of the next three jumps for 16 faults before Coyle decided to retire ahead of the final jump.

With all eyes on Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, they got off to a solid early rhythm but came unstuck with a pole down at the fifth, and with their medal chances gone, saw out the remainder of the course with 12 faults in total to finish in 22nd place overall.

“He tried his best but I’d say the tank was a little bit empty after four big rounds in six days,” Sweetnam said afterwards.

“He got a second wind and finished the course brilliantly, I’m very proud of him and our entire team. He’s done us proud and hopefully we’ll be back again in Los Angeles.”

He added: “The course was the biggest I’ve ever seen and 15 jumps, which I’ve never seen before. The course designer obviously did a great job as there were just three people for the medals which is great sport and exactly what you’d expect in an Olympic final.”

In the jump-off, Kukuk and Checker 47 claimed the Olympic title as the only partnership with a double clear, edging Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme into silver and van der Vleuten and Beauville Z into bronze.

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Niall Kelly
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