Irish Eventing team climb five places to eighth after Tokyo Olympics Cross Country

The Irish Eventing team have risen five places to eighth overall following the Cross Country phase of the Olympic Eventing competition at Sea Forest Island in Tokyo, while The Irish Sport Horse Ballaghmor Class (ISH) has moved into the gold medal position on the individual standings with Britain’s Oliver Townend.

Ireland’s Sam Watson riding Tullabeg Flamenco (ISH) during the Eventing Cross Country team and individual session at the Sea Forest Cross-Country Course during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Carlow’s Sam Watson and the Vahe Bogossian-owned Tullabeg Flamenco (ISH) were pathfinders for the Irish in the Cross Country. A fast round saw them pick up just two time penalties but they unfortunately also picked up 11 penalties when a slight rub broke a frangible pin at fence 14C. That put Watson on a total score 47.3 after Dressage and Cross Country and they now lie in 31st place individually.

Austin O’Connor of Ireland riding Colorado Blue during the Eventing Cross Country team and individual session at the Sea Forest Cross-Country Course during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Cork native Austin O’Connor and the Salty Syndicate-owned Colorado Blue were second to go for the Sally Corscadden managed Irish team and they produced an absolutely stunning round to jump clear inside the time to stay on their Dressage score of 38.0.  O’Connor and Colorado Blue’s  brilliant round, one of just six clears inside the time,  saw him shoot up the leaderboard and having been in 49th place after Dressage, they are now in 20th position.

The last member of the Irish trio to take on the Cross Country course was Meath’s Sarah Ennis with Breda Kennedy’s Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (ISH) picked up 20 penalties for a refusal at fence 16C and 17.6 time penalties for a total score after Dressage and Cross Country of 75.70 in 39th position.

That leaves Ireland on a team total of 161.0 heading into the final Show Jumping phase. Britain remain in the gold medal position in the team competition after they added no penalties to their Dressage score of 78.30.  Australia are in silver with France currently in bronze.

Britain’s Oliver Townend and The Irish Sport Horse Ballaghmor Class (ISH) are in the gold medal position on the individual standings with a score of 23.6.

The Olympic Eventing team and individual medals will be decided following the final Show Jumping phase which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday.

BREEDING

Sam Watson with Tullabeg Flamenco (ISH) – 2009 gelding by Tullabeg Fusion [ISH] out of Tullabeg Heidi (unk) by Ardenteggle Sir (IPSA). Breeder: Nicholas Cousins (Wexford). Owner: Vahe Bogossian

Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue (SHBGB) – 2009 grey gelding by Jaguar Mail out of Rock Me Baby by Rock Kind. Breeder: Mellon Stud, Owner Austin O’Connor and The Salty Syndicate

Sarah Ennis with Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (ISH) [was Woodcourt Garrison] – 2009 gelding by Garrison Royal (ISH) out of Davitt Star (ISH) by Furisto (HANN). Breeder: Patrick J Kearns (Laois). Owner: Breda Kennedy

Oliver Townend with Ballaghmor Class (ISH) 2007 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH) (no dam of sire recorded). He was bred by Noel Hickey of Co. Limerick, ridden by Oliver Townend (GBR) and owned by Val Ryan, Angela Hislop and Karyn Shuter.