Irish Show Jumping team in touch with medal places after first round at World Equestrian Games

  • 19 September 2018, 22:33

The Irish Show Jumping team are in 10th place of 25 teams after today’s (Wednesday) opening speed competition at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in North Carolina, USA.

Ireland, managed by Rodrigo Pessoa and sponsored by Devenish & The Underwriting Exchange, are less than one fence off the medal positions at this early stage of the competition.

Shane Sweetnam and Chaqui Z are less than one fence off top spot after round 1 of the Show Jumping competition at the World Equestrian Games in the USA (Photo: Erin Gilmore)

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam was the first to jump from a massive start list of 124 riders and despite the early draw, he put down an excellent marker with Chaqui Z, crossing the line clear in 80.19 seconds. That puts Sweetnam into 15th place and they are the highest placed of the Irish individually at this early stage, just under one fence behind Swiss leader Steve Guerdat with Bianca.

Riding the anchor leg for Ireland, Cian O’Connor and Good Luck had a fast time of 77.72 and despite lowering one fence, their score of 81.72 leaves them in 23rd place individually and are just over a fence outside the medal places.

Limerick’s Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu knocked the very first fence, but jumped the rest of the course clear to finish on a score of 87.33, putting O’Shea into 62nd position.

Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker lowered a single fence in 84.26 and with four seconds added for each knocked fence, that left Breen on 88.26 in 68th spot.

Switzerland hold the lead in the team competition with Netherlands in second and Brazil in third at this early stage.

The second round of the team and individual Show Jumping competition at the World Equestrian Games takes place tomorrow, Thursday, after which only the top 10 teams will make it through to Friday’s round to decide the team medals. The top six teams from Friday’s team final will have the added bonus of Olympic qualification.

The leading 25 riders will then go forward to Sunday’s individual final, which is set over two rounds at a massive 1m65, following which the new Show Jumping World Champion will be crowned.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange and Devenish
Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Team Ireland Equestrian

About the FEI World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games™, held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle, is one of the biggest events on the golbal sporting calendar, combining eight equestrian World Championship caliber events in a pre-determined location. The FEI disciplines – Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining – are all included on the competition schedule, while equestrian-focused demonstrations and exhibitions will also be hosted throughout the duration of the event. The 2018 edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ is being held in Mill Spring, NC, USA over thirteen days from September 11-23rd, 2018 at Tryon International Equestrian Center.

More details – Media contact Brian Hennessy 087 6120717 Email: pr@horsesportireland.ie

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