IRISH fans arrived in Versailles in their droves over the duration of the equestrian events for the Paris Olympic Games, which officially concluded on August 6th with the individual final.

While there was no luck for the Irish contenders at the Games, that didn’t stop the fans enjoying the wonderful surroundings of the venue at the Chateau de Versailles.

One such mother and daughter duo who made the trip was Lucinda Creighton and her pony-mad daughter Gwendolyn Bradford, who had a ball watching the individual show jumping final before taking in some sights of Paris. Gwendolyn was also at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, in 2014 when she was just a baby, so it was a lovely moment to celebrate the Olympics 10 years on.

Also spotted in the stands on the final day was Tamso Doyle and her daughter, India Cox. The pair also took in some other sports after the equestrian events.

There were of course plenty with an interest in a particular horse, including Shane and Brian Connolly, whose father, Patrick, bred James Kann Cruz (see more on 84-85). Show jumper Susan Fitzpatrick attended the venue on Monday to see her former horse, Fellow Castlefield, jump around with Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and her parents, Sharon and Joe, were there for the team final. There was breeder Sharon Fitzpatrick too (see her story on page 81).

Carol Gee was the proud owner of Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra’s Dourados and was sporting the Portugal team gear, while Dermott Lennon was head to toe in Thailand kit, as he trains Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj, who rode the Irish-bred mare Agalux Kinmar (Agalux du Seigneur x Lux Z), who was bred by Gerry Marron.

As always, the Sweetnam family were out in force to support Shane, none more so than his parents, Jerry and Marie. It is unknown if she brought the box of Tayto crisps on this occasion!