AMONG over 700 guests gathered for the special Team Ireland Centenary Olympic Ball at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin last Saturday night were plenty of equestrian Olympians, past and present, including event rider Juliet Jobling-Purser, who finished seventh at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.

In 1924, the first team competed for Ireland at the Olympic Games in Paris and, throughout the evening, athletes and performances spanning the one hundred years were celebrated.

Each Irish Olympian was presented with their official ‘number’ at the event, recognising the exceptional achievement it is for someone to even qualify for the Olympic Games. The highlight of the evening was the award ceremony, which celebrated individuals for their outstanding achievements, and President of Olympic Federation of Ireland, Sarah Keane, was also recognised for her contribution to Irish Olympic sport with an Order of Merit.

Irish eventing Olympian Juliet Jobling-Purser in attendance at the Team Ireland Centenary Olympic Ball. Juliet finished seventh at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico and proudly wore the team tracksuit 56 years later \ Seb Daly/Sportsfile

81-year-old Juliet Jobling-Purser, who competed internationally in both eventing and show jumping for Ireland and is the great-aunt of current youth dressage rider Martha Jobling-Purser, attended the evening wearing her tracksuit from the 1968 Olympics.

Also in attendance was John Watson, who competed in the 1988 Games in Seoul, as well as three members of the 2024 Paris eventing team – Susie Berry, Aoife Clark and Austin O’Connor – and Niall Griffin, who rode in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, among others.