Ireland have booked the second team ticket to the LA28 Olympic Games after finishing seventh in the final of the FEI World Championships.
Jessica Kuerten’s team of Darragh Kenny with Eddy Blue, Bertram Allen with Qonquest De Rigo, Cian O’Connor with Chatolinue PS and Shane Sweetnam with the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz climbed from 10th to seventh and secured the all-important place at the 2028 Summer Games.
On what proved a difficult and dramatic night for the world’s best in Aachen, all three of Ireland’s combinations came home with just one pole down for four faults to finish on a final team tally of 23.69.
That was enough to ensure the Irish, who had lost Darragh Kenny’s Eddy Blue after his withdrawal during the day, claimed the all-important qualification spot, joining the Eventing team on the plane after they secured their slot last Sunday with a fourth-placed finish in Aachen.
Hosts Germany took gold, with Belgium runners up and Great Britain winning bronze.
A thrilled Horse Sport Ireland’s Senior Jumping Manager gave her thoughts after her team dug in to secure qualification to the Summer Games in two years time.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve made qualification for the Olympics in LA in 2028.
“It was really exciting sport all week and we had to fight to get into the final, then came the the bad news that we needed to go without Eddy Blue in the final tonight.
“That hit us very hard but in true Irish style, everybody pulled together and gave it their absolute best shot to earn us the qualification.
“I think when we’re very realistic we have to be delighted that we’re going to Los Angeles.”