Irish Eventing team climb into Olympic qualification places after stunning Cross Country performance at World Championships

An outstanding performance from all four members of the Irish Eventing team in today’s Cross Country phase at the FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy, has moved Dag Albert’s team up a massive seven places to fifth position and into one of the seven qualifying places on offer for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Padraig McCarthy and Fallulah (Photo: Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times)

The Irish quartet of Susie Berry, Padraig McCarthy, Sam Watson and Austin O’Connor all completed the challenging course without jumping penalties, with Ireland adding a total of just six time penalties to their combined Dressage score of 99.0. Ireland are now on 105.0 and are just 16.7 penalties outside the World Championship medal places. Germany have moved into the lead on 76.1, with USA in second on 77.4. Britain, who had held the lead after Dressage, are now in third on 80.9, while New Zealand are fourth on 88.3.

On the individual standings, Padraig McCarthy with Fallulah are best of the Irish in 17th place on a score of 32.2, while Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue are in 20th place on 33.0. Sam Watson with SAP Talisman (ISH) are in 29th on a score of 39.8, while Susie Berry with Monbeg By Design (ISH) are in 38th on 46.4. Germany’s Michael Jug and FischerChipmunk FRH
are in the individual gold medal position with a score of 18.8.

The FEI Eventing World Championship medals and Olympic qualification places will be decided following Sunday’s final Show Jumping phase.

BREEDING
Susie Berry with Monbeg By Design (ISH) [was Eskerhills Elixir] – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Eskerhills Lexis [ISH] by Puissance (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Fiona Molloy (Offaly). Owner: Helen Caton. Groom: Crisy Salmon

Padraig McCarthy with Fallulah (WESTF) – 2009 brown mare by Fidertanz 2 out of Devona by Di Versace. Bred by: Michael Norris, Owner: Amanda and Nicholas Boyle, Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattel and Padraig McCarthy. Groom: Jess Elliott

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

Sam Watson with SAP Talisman (ISH) – 2011 bay gelding by Puissance (ISH) out of Ali Row (TB) by All Royal (TB). Breeder: Rosemary Ponsonby. Owner: Hannah Watson and Julia Watson. Groom: Hannah Watson