Jonty Evans claims top 10 finish in Rio Olympic Eventing as two Irish Horses win medals

Ireland’s Jonty Evans and The Irish Sport Horse Cooley Rorkes Drift, have finished in a superb ninth place in the Olympic Eventing final this evening (Tuesday) at Deodora Olympic Park in Rio, while two Irish Sport Horses have been crowned Olympic medal winners.

Ireland’s Jonty Evans and The Irish Sport Horse  Cooley Rorkes Drift, during the Eventing Team Jumping Final at the Olympic Equestrian Centre, Deodoro, during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

An incredible double clear round from 44-year-old Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift, saw them shoot up the leaderboard and into the top 10, having started the final Show Jumping phase in 16th place overall.

Cooley Rorke’s Drift (ISH), who is just a 10-year-old, was bred by William McCarrison and is owned by Evans himself along with Fiona Elliot. It was an incredible performance by the pair over all three Eventing phases. A superb Dressage score of 41.80 was followed by a clear jumping round in Monday’s Cross Country where they added just 22.80 time penalties. A foot perfect performance by Evans in the final Show Jumping phase saw them finish on 64.60 penalties in ninth place.

Ireland’s Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift, in action during the Eventing Team Jumping Final at the Olympic Equestrian Centre, Deodoro, during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Reigning Olympic champion Michael Jung (GER) retained the title he won in London, claiming individual Gold in Rio with Sam FBW. Nicolas Astier took the Silver medal for France riding Piaf De B’Neville.

There was excellent news for Irish breeding, with three Irish Sport Horses inside the top 10. The Irish Sport Horse Mighty Nice, who was bred by William Kells from Co. Cavan, captured the individual Bronze medal with American rider Phillip Dutton.
Another Irish Sport Horse, Paulank Brockagh, who was bred by Paula Cullen, finished fourth individually with Australia’s Sam Griffiths, with The Irish-bred horse helping Griffiths and Australia to win the team Bronze medal.
Two more Irish-bred horses finished inside the top 20 of the individual final. Brazil’s Carlos Parro and the Irish Thoroughbred Summon Up The Blood, finished 19th, while The Irish Sport Horse, The Duke of Cavan finished 20th with Japanese rider Yoshiaki Oiwa.

Earlier, Nick Turner’s Irish quartet finished the Eventing team competition in eighth place overall of 13 nations. A clear round from Jonty Evans was matched by another brilliant clear from Clare Abbott and The Irish Sport Horse Europrince, while Mark Kyle and Jemilla finished with eight faults. Kyle finished in 33rd place on the individual standings with Abbott three places further back in 36th.

France are the new Olympic Eventing Gold medal winners, while Germany took the Silver Medal and Australia claimed the Bronze.

 
Breeding details of above mentioned Irish-bred horses available below:

Individual Bronze Medal – Mighty Nice (ISH) – 2004 gelding by Ard Ohio (KWPN) out of Sarazen (ISH). Breeder: William Kells, Co. Cavan. Owner: HND Group. Rider: Phillip Dutton (USA

Team Bronze Medal – Paulank Brockagh (ISH) – 2003 mare by Touchdown (ISH) out of Calender Girl (ISH), by Triggerero (TB). Breeder: Paula Cullen. Owners: Mr & Mrs S Posford, Mrs J Carter and Sam Griffiths. Rider: Sam Griffiths (AUS)

Individual 9th place – 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.

Individual 19th place – Summon Up The Blood (IRE)(TB) – 2005 gelding by Red Ransom (TB) out of Diddymu (IRE)(TB), by Revogue (IRE)(TB). Breeders: D. D. and Mrs Jean P. Clee (IRE). Owners: Carlos Paro & Nicola Tootle. Rider: Carlos Parro (BRA)

Individual 20th place – The Duke of Cavan (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Dysert Girl (ISH), by Ricardo Z (ZANG) Breeder: Tommy Fitzpatrick, Co. Clare. Owners: Yoshiaki Oiwa & Taeko Oiwa. Rider: Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN)

Individual 36th place – Clare Abbott with Europrince (ISH), 2003 chestnut gelding by Lougheries Quiet Man (UNK) out of Miss Tullydraw. (UNK). Breeder & Owner: Dr Cormac McKay.