CALLED in at the 11th hour to ride the final show jumping phase for Ireland at the Paris Olympic Games after the withdrawal of Sarah Ennis’ Action Lady M, Kildare’s Aoife Clark enjoyed every minute of her time in the Versailles arena with the Irish-bred mare Sportsfield Freelance.

Mostly, because she knew her four-year-old son Paddy was watching her on the ‘kiss and cry’. “It really does make a difference,” Clark commented on having her son and family supporting her. “I am quite lucky that, when I do focus in on riding, I don’t notice the crowd and the big atmosphere and it didn’t really affect me in London, but today I actually went in and looked up at the surroundings and the big screen and I said ‘I am going to enjoy this’ and I really did.

“Part of that might be just the fact that my little boy was there, on my brother’s shoulders, giving me a high five on the way out, that definitely adds a different aspect to it. I am so proud he got to watch me ride around, it was so lovely.”

Sarah Ennis was supported by her son, James, in Paris and so too was Austin O’Connor who’s eldest son Alfie came to watch his father finish best of the Irish. “Alfie is here and I think he is the largest pin collector in Versailles. I don’t think there is any nation missing from his accreditation. It’s great to have him here, in time we will look back at these memories, it’s a fabulous experience and a special moment.”