Ireland off to great start in opening Dressage phase of Eventing at Rio 2016

Ireland have made a very competitive start to the Olympic Eventing competition at Rio 2016, with the team lying in provisional sixth place overall halfway through the opening Dressage phase, with only a handful of points separating the top eight teams.

Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Simon Porloe in action during the Eventing Team Dressage Day 1 at the Olympic Equestrian Centre, Deodoro during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Tipperary’s Padraig McCarthy had the honour of being the first Irish Equestrian rider to take to the arena at Deodora Olympic Park. Thirty-nine year-old McCarthy produced a personal best score of 46.80 penalties with the 16-year-old gelding Simon Porloe to finish the day in 12th place overall.

Clare Abbott and The Irish Sport Horse  Euro Prince in action during the Eventing Team Dressage Day 1 at the Olympic Equestrian Centre, Deodoro during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Clare Abbott from Co Down and The Irish Sport Horse Europrince, also finished with a personal best Dressage score of 47.00, and is just one place behind her teammate, in 13th spot.

Tomorrow Sunday will see the second half of the Eventing competitors complete their Dressage tests, including Ireland’s Jonty Evans riding Cooley Rorkey’s Drift (ISH) and Mark Kyle with Jemilla.

The Cross Country phase of the Eventing competition takes place on Monday, while the individual and team Eventing medals will be decided following the final Show Jumping phase on Tuesday.

Judy Reynolds will begin the Olympic Dressage competition on Wednesday in Rio with her horse Vancouver K, while Greg Broderick and The Irish Sport Horse, MHS Going Global, start the Olympic Show Jumping competition on Sunday August 14th.

Breeding an owners details of all four Irish Olympic Eventing horses available below.

Padraig McCarthy with Simon Porloe (PZHK) 2000 bay gelding by Sofix out of Babilonia by Czubaryk. Owner: Christopher & Sarita Perkins
Clare Abbott with Europrince (ISH), 2003 chestnut gelding by Lougheries Quiet Man (UNK) out of Miss Tullydraw. (UNK). Breeder & Owner: Dr Cormac McKay.
Jonty Evans with Cooley Rorke’s Drift (ISH), 2006 gelding by Courage II out of Doon-A-Ree-Lass, by Rachelle Comet. Breeder: William McCarrison Owner: Fiona Elliot & Jonty Evans.
Mark Kyle with Jemilla, (SHBGB). 2006 bay mare by Mill Law out of Jessica XIX by Louella Moschallah. Owner: Shelagh & Richard Morley.