The team final at the FEI European Jumping Championships ended in disappointment for Ireland yesterday when they just missed out on a qualifying spot for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Controversy
Ireland came into the final day of the team competition with a difficult task ahead of them. Lying in ninth place, they had to make their way up the leaderboard if they were to claim one of the three remaining slots for next year’s Games.
Four faults for both Bertram Allen and Greg Broderick put the pressure on the final two Irish riders. Cian O’Connor, who jumped a superb clear round on Good Luck on Thursday, was looking strong yesterday – until a near miss with a member of the arena party.
The steward crossed the pair’s path as he turned towards the final line, leaping into a flower bed to avoid a collision. Cian’s nine-year-old stallion Good Luck then tipped the next fence and finished on four faults.
Missed out
Final rider Denis Lynch produced a superb clear on All Star 5 but the team finished sixth on 25.960 – less than 0.4 faults behind Spain.
With three qualifying slots remaining, and Germany and The Netherlands already safely qualified, Switzerland, Great Britain and Spain got their tickets to Rio while Ireland missed out.
“We were one point away from qualifying, and that was our goal here this week,” said Denis. “It’s a very bitter pill to be taking. This is the third time in a row we haven’t qualified for the Olympics, it’s devastating.”
Appeal
Following the incident, Irish chef d’equipe Robert Splaine and Cian O’Connor lodged a protest.
A statement from the FEI released today confirmed the protest was heard by the Ground Jury, who subsequently ruled that the result would stand.
Their statement read: “As the athlete had continued his round, they saw no reason to stop him by ringing the bell. Under Article 233.3 of the FEI Jumping Rules, the athlete had the opportunity to stop voluntarily due to unforeseen circumstances beyond his control, however he did not do so.”
Splaine and O’Connor then appealed the decision to the Appeal Committee, but they ruled that the rider had been given a “full and complete right to be heard and stated that it would not overrule the Ground Jury on a field of play decision”.
Rejected
The Appeal Committee rejected the appeal and upheld the Ground Jury’s decision.
Cian wrote on his Facebook page this morning that he could not comment specifically on the incident because it was ‘sub judice’ but did say: “Totally gutted following yesterday’s final team round at the European Championships in Aachen yesterday. Good Luck jumped out of his skin all week and if I may say so looked one of the best horses of the championship.”
The Europeans are not over for the Irish, however, as Cian, Denis and Bertram have all qualified for tomorrow’s individual final.
While Ireland missed out on a team place at 2012, O’Connor did win an individual bronze three years ago in London, so Irish hopes for a further Olympic medal now lie with their individual riders.