Horse Sport Ireland Take on Tokyo Documentary Series Launched On Virgin Media Player

Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to announce that the Horse Sport Ireland Take on Tokyo documentary series has been launched today, with the first of four fascinating episodes now available to watch on the Virgin Media Player.

Produced by Bit-Media for Horse Sport Ireland, the Take On Tokyo series focuses on the build-up to the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, with presenter Robert Hall meeting some of the equestrian athletes that will be representing Ireland this summer in the unique disciplines of Eventing, Show Jumping and Para-dressage. Featured athletes include Bertram Allen, Cathal Daniels, Sarah Ennis, Shane Sweetnam, Cian O’ Connor, Sam Watson, Rosemary Gaffney and Darragh Kenny.

The series is presented by former RTE Racing and Equestrian presenter Robert Hall, who has covered multiple Olympic Games and Championships in a broadcasting career spanning nearly 40 years. Take On Tokyo is filmed on location at venues around Ireland with remote interviews also recorded from a studio in Tattersalls Ireland.

Athletes discuss their backgrounds and how they were first introduced to equestrian sport, rising up through the ranks from ponies to Olympic level, challenges and opportunities provided by the sport, and their hopes and dreams for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Speaking about the HSI Take On Tokyo series, Horse Sport Ireland acting CEO Joe Reynolds said:

“We are very excited to launch our Take On Tokyo series which will showcase many of our top athletes to a huge audience on Virgin Media in the build-up to this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. The producers of the series Bit Media, along with our own staff in Horse Sport Ireland have done a fantastic job in putting the series together and I have no doubt that all viewers will really enjoy each of the four episodes. Our athletes are heading to Tokyo with real hopes of challenging for medals and this will also be a great opportunity for non-equestrian fans to get to know them before the Games get underway.”

In addition to the four-part series, Horse Sport Ireland – Behind the Scenes will include bonus content from Ireland’s High Performance athletes and sponsors on Horse Sport Ireland’s website and social media channels as they prepare for the European Championships later this year.

Mick McCaffrey, Virgin Media Head of News, Sport and Current Affairs said:

“Virgin Media Sport is delighted to showcase our amazing equestrian team on the Virgin Media Player as they get set to “Take on Tokyo”. We would like to wish them and all our Irish Athletes the very best of luck at the Olympic Games.”

Take On Tokyo presenter Robert Hall (pictured) added:

“It has been a joy visiting and talking to our Olympic hopefuls. The participants’ dedication to their mission is tangible and huge progress has evidently been made in the riders’ preparation and support structure. A medal reward in Tokyo seems entirely possible.”

In Episode 1, Robert meets Rosemary Gaffney, a Kildalton College lecturer who has been shortlisted for two Paralympic Games and is determined to impress the selectors and make the trip to Tokyo. Darragh Kenny, the highest ranked Irish showjumper in the world rankings discusses his background and Olympic ambitions and Cathal Daniels relives his Championship Eventing successes while looking ahead to his first Olympic Games.

The Horse Sport Ireland Take On Tokyo series is available to view in Ireland for the next two months on the Virgin Media Player and you can watch Episode 1 now HERE

Take On Tokyo is also available on the Virgin Media Iphone/Android app, also accessible by more than 310,000 Virgin Media television subscribers through their set top boxes. The series will be made available to an International audience on ClipMyHorse.tv in the coming days.