**FLASH** Ireland’s Austin O’Connor qualifies for Olympic final as Irish Eventing team finish eighth overall in Tokyo – Irish Sport Horse helps Britain to Gold Medal

Francis Murray General August 2, 2021

Cork’s Austin O’Connor has made it through to this afternoon’s individual final of the Eventing competition at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, while the Irish team, managed by Sally Corscadden, have finished in eighth place overall of 14 teams.

Riding the Irish-bred gelding Colorado Blue, Austin O’Connor had a brilliant clear round in Sunday’s Cross Country and was lying in 20th place heading into this morning’s final Show Jumping phase from which the top 25 would qualify for this afternoon’s individual final. O’Connor lowered just a single fence during his Show Jumping round which has now moved him up two places to 18th to comfortably make the final.

Carlow’s Sam Watson and Tullabeg Flamenco (ISH have finished in 30th place overall, while Meath’s Sarah Ennis and Horseware Woodcourt Garrison(ISH) have finished in 36th.

The Olympic Eventing team gold medal has gone to the British team which included The Irish Sport Horse Ballaghmor Class who was bred in Co Limerick by the late Noel Hickey and was produced in Co Kilkenny as a young horse by Katherine Charlton. Ballaghmor Class goes forward to the individual final in the silver medal position with Oliver Townend (GBR).

The Eventing individual final in Tokyo gets underway at 12.45pm.

BREEDING

Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue (SHBGB) – 2009 grey gelding by Jaguar Mail out of Rock Me Baby by Rock Kind. Breeder: Mellon Stud, Owner Austin O’Connor and The Salty Syndicate

Sam Watson with Tullabeg Flamenco (ISH) – 2009 gelding by Tullabeg Fusion [ISH] out of Tullabeg Heidi (unk) by Ardenteggle Sir (IPSA). Breeder: Nicholas Cousins (Wexford). Owner: Vahe Bogossian

Sarah Ennis with Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (ISH) [was Woodcourt Garrison] – 2009 gelding by Garrison Royal (ISH) out of Davitt Star (ISH) by Furisto (HANN). Breeder: Patrick J Kearns (Laois). Owner: Breda Kennedy

Oliver Townend with Ballaghmor Class (ISH) 2007 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH) (no dam of sire recorded). He was bred by Noel Hickey of Co. Limerick, ridden by Oliver Townend (GBR) and owned by Val Ryan, Angela Hislop and Karyn Shuter.