FOR the Irish eventing team, the Paris Olympic Games did not go as planned when they ended with a ninth place finish. Austin O’Connor finished in 17th place individually. The team of Susie Berry, Sarah Ennis, O’Connor and Aoife Clark, who was subbed in for show jumping, the first day of dressage put them on the back foot.

Sarah Ennis was Ireland’s pathfinder and was fourth into the incredibly atmospheric arena with Susanne Macken and Andrew Cox’s Action Lady M (Plot Blue x Acorado). The 10-year-old mare started with some nice trot work, but spooked at the bottom left-hand side of the arena and was tense through the remainder of the test. They ended on a score of 38.0.