Awesome Austin vaults into medal contention

Austin O’Connor went clear on Colorado Blue (Photo: Pierre Costabadie/Sportsfile)

Awesome Austin O’Connor delivered a foot-perfect clear cross country round within the time on board Colorado Blue to lie 14th individually in Eventing.

O’Connor and his dashing grey came home one second under the limit to remain on his dressage score of 31.7.

Unfortunately however, an injury to Sarah Ennis’ Irish Sport Horse Acton Lady M, picked up in the course of a brilliant round that saw the Howth pilot pick up just 3.2 penalties, have put a major dent in hopes of a medal for Dag Albert’s squad.

First alternate, Aoife Clark will step into the breach on Sportsfield Freelance in tomorrow show jumping but with 20 penalty points added to Ireland’s tally, Ireland are now in ninth overall.

That represented a climb of two places for the squad, while O’Connor vaulted 14 places from the 28^th position he inhabited after the dressage.

“It’s obviously very disappointing, especially for Sarah and for the horse – they were incredible out there today, jumped their hearts out,” said Albert, Eventing Team Manager.

“Action Lady M has picked up a little injury, nothing serious, and she’ll be fully recovered very soon, but the horse always comes first in these situations and that’s why we’ve made the decision to substitute Aoife in with Sportsfield Freelance.

“I’m so proud of Sarah, Susie and Austin for their performances today, and now Aoife replaces Sarah in tomorrow’s show jumping.

“We came here as a team of four and now Aoife steps in to compete. That’s the nature of it and I have no doubt she will jump brilliantly tomorrow for the team.”

O’Connor and his Tokyo Olympics partner were Ireland’s anchor riders after Sarah Ennis and Susie Berry had both come home with just time penalties, and the Corkman was delighted and relieved in equal measure with his performance.

“He was electric,” said O’Connor, who is competing in his fourth Olympics. “Even with his reputation on the cross-country it’s a massive mighty relief to have it behind us.

“He was super the whole way around. He was quick, he was good, He did what he’s good at – clear inside the time for the second time at an Olympics.

“He’s just a phenomenal, and I’m beginning to hope he stays around forever. He’s an incredible horse. Whatever he does from here on, he’s been the horse of a lifetime for me and he’s feeling as good as ever.”

With over 40,000 lining the track, O’Connor felt uplifted by the crowd, and joked that he didn’t want to let them down by making any mistakes.

“I’ve never ridden in an atmosphere like this, it’s incredible, unbelievable – from the get-go to the finish.

“It gives you a bit of a lift when you see them, and then the main thing is not to not to screw up in front of all of the fans. It makes you a little bit more determined, and I’m really glad it all turned out well.”

Sarah Ennis riding Action Lady M

After a disappointing score of 38.0 in her dressage test yesterday, Ennis and Action Lady M (ISH) came home after a clear round with just 3.2 time penalties to bring the Irish back into contention.

Pathfinder Ennis set off fourth of all competitors and superbly navigated the track and come home just outside the allowed time.

“She was incredible – where the crowds didn’t help in the dressage ring, they actually helped out there today. I’ve never seen so many people!” Ennis declared.

“She can be a little spooky and she actually backed away from the crowds, and I could ride around the turns. I stuck to the plan, and she was on it all the way. The ground hasn’t dried overnight and I nearly slipped in the woods but that was the only real scare.

“She actually lost a couple of shoes out on the track so fair dues to her – it really was a brilliant performance.”

Berry kept Ireland in the hunt by avoiding any jumping errors and registering 15.2 time penalties. After a score of 33.0 in dressage, Berry moves to 48.2 after day two, for 36^th in the individual rankings.

Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln (Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile)

“The amount of Irish flags I saw when I was coming in, it was really special – just class,” Berry gushed.

“Lincoln was brilliant, he kept answering every question, jumped great and was full of running at the end.I had to do a long route at the end, which definitely wasn’t Plan A, but he landed a little more left then I needed at the first log.

“I probably could have done the time as a risk – if I was doing it for myself – but as a team, you need everyone to get home.

“I’m still a little bit frustrated, if I’m honest. We’re so competitive by nature, and I probably could have just been a bit quicker but it was a matter of getting around and putting a clear in.”