Judy Reynolds & Vancouver K through to second qualifier

Team Ireland Equestrian dressage rider, Judy Reynolds, has secured a place in the next round of the Individual dressage competition following the first qualifier competition at the Olympic Games in Rio today (Thursday).

Battling against a field of 60 other top combinations, Judy and Vancouver K scored 74.7% to finish in 21^st place. The top 32 go forward to tomorrow’s second qualifier class, which kicks off at the Brazilian venue at 14.00 GMT. Judy will be second to go, at 14.09 Irish time.

Vancouver K is a 14-year-old Dutch gelding, owned by Judy’s parents, Joe and Kathleen Reynolds. Judy is Ireland’s highest ranked dressage rider, currently sitting in 25th place in the FEI World Rankings, and is making her Olympic debut at Rio.

Judy is the first Irish rider to qualify for an Olympic Grand Prix Special (second qualifier) in 24 years and is the fourth ever Irish dressage rider to compete at an Olympic Games. Speaking after the class today, Judy said; “That was a once in a lifetime experience…..well, hopefully not just once!!”

Tomorrow’s (Friday) Grand Prix Special class is the second qualifier for individual dressage riders. No scores are carried from the first qualifier class so Judy will start on a score of zero in tomorrow’s second qualifier class. The top 18 in the competition will qualify for the Individual Dressage Final, which will take place on Monday next (15th August) at 14.00 GMT.