Rio Olympics – focus moves to Ireland’s dressage and showjumping riders

With the three-day eventing competition at the Rio Olympics now finished, focus now shifts to Team Ireland Equestrian’s dressage and showjumping representatives at the Games. Ireland do not field a team in either of the two remaining equestrian disciplines but will be represented in the individual medal competitions – in dressage by Judy Reynolds with Vancouver K and in showjumping by Greg Broderick with MHS Going Global (ISH).

Below is a step by step guide to what happens next for our equestrian Olympians, including a timetable of events and a guide to the competitions themselves. Horse Sport Ireland will provide a comprehensive results service from Rio, via the Team Ireland Equestrian Facebook page and on Twitter (TeamIRLEq).

Dressage @ Rio:

• Rider: Judy Reynolds (IRL)
• Horse: Vancouver K
• Discipline: Dressage – horse and rider are judge on movements carried out in the arena during a dressage ‘test’. The type of test dictates proscribed movements the combination must carry out. Scores are awarded out of 10 for each proscribed movement. Scores are converted to percentages and the highest percentage score wins.
• Wednesday 10^th & Thursday 11^th August: First Individual and Team Qualifier class. A total of 60 riders will compete in this class which is run over two days. 11 teams will compete alongside the individuals in this class. The team rider’s score will be also used to establish their position in the individual rankings. Ireland does not have a team so Judy will be competing as an individual only. A total of 32 riders will qualify from this class – four riders from each of the top six teams plus the top eight individuals. Therefore, in order to move forward to Friday, Judy must finish in the top 32 overall. This class starts at 14.00 (Irish time) and Judy will compete at 14.54.
• Friday 12^th August: Second Individual Qualifier class. Judy must finish in the top 18 in this class to qualify for Monday’s final class. This class starts at 14.00 (Irish time). Judy’s start time will be determined on Thursday evening. No scores are carried from the first class (day 1 & 2).
• Monday 15^th August: Individual Final class. 18 riders. This class is a Grand Prix Freestyle test to music. No scores are carried from the first class (day 1 & 2) or the second class (day 3). This class starts at 14.00 (Irish time). Individual medals are awarded at the end of this class.

Jumping @ Rio:

• Rider: Greg Broderick (IRL)
• Horse: MHS Going Global (ISH)
• Discipline: Showjumping – horse and rider compete over a course of fences in a series of ‘classes’ held over four days of competition.
• Sunday 14^th August: First individual qualifier class. The aim is to jump a course of fences/obstacles in the class without fault. Greg must finish in the top 60 after this class to progress to Tuesday’s class. This class takes place at 14.00 (Irish time).
• Tuesday 16^th August: Second individual qualifier class. This class takes place at 14.00 (Irish time). Faults gained in Sunday’s class are added to faults gained in this class. Greg must be in the top 45 after this class to qualify for round 2 on Wednesday.
• Wednesday 17^th August: Third individual qualifier class. This class takes place at 14.00 (Irish time). Faults gained in Sunday’s class and Tuesday’s class are added to faults gained in this class. Greg must be in the top 35 to qualify for Friday’s final class.
• Friday 19^th August: Individual Final. 35 riders. This class is held over two rounds, with round 1 taking place at 14.00 (Irish time) and round 2 taking place at 17.30 (Irish time). Riders start in this class on a score of zero (faults from previous classes do not count). Greg must finish in the top 20 in round 1 to progress to round 2. If combinations finish level in faults after round 2, the medals will be decided by a jump-off against the clock.