THERE has been a major shake up in a eventing team competition at the Paris Olympic Games following today’s cross-country at the Chateau de Versailles.

Britain holds the lead (82.50) but not with as much advantage as they had, following a 15 penalty flag for Ros Canter, while Germany are effectively out of the competition following a fall for Christophe Wahler.

The home nation of France has moved into the silver medal position on 87.20, just 4.7 penalties behind Britain. Japan are in bronze (93.80) after a fantastic day which saw two of their riders come home clear inside the time.

Ireland are in ninth place – or at least they will be once Sarah Ennis' substitution penalties are added - after a day of highs and lows. The day was bolstered by a foot perfect clear round inside the time by Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue but sadly, Sarah Ennis will not continue in the competition following an injury to Action Lady M. The pair were brilliant across the country to add just 3.7 time penalties to their score, but the mare was later found to have picked up an injury.

Perre Le Goupil’s 5,300-meter track was beautifully built and designed and by mid morning, was thronged with 47,000 eventing fans. The surroundings of the park at the Chateau de Versailles provided the most spectacular backdrop for the Olympic cross-country, with less terrain than typical championship courses, significant tree coverage and three stunning water complexes. The optimum time was nine minutes and two seconds and 10 riders managed to beat the clock.

Five riders were eliminated while one – Australia’s Kevin McNab – retired. McNab reported that his horse, Don Quidam, had picked up a soft tissue injury on course and he immediately pulled up.

Proud

For Ireland, Sarah Ennis was once again Ireland’s pathfinder and was fourth out on course with Susanne Macken and Andrew Cox’s Action Lady M (Plot Blue x Acorado). The 10-year-old mare came home with 3.2 time penalties which was an excellent score for the team. Later in the day, the mare was ruled out of the remainder of the competition with an injury. She will be replaced in tomorrow’s show jumping by Aoife Clark and Sportsfield Freelance.

Ennis commented afterwards that her mare was “incredible. We are very proud of her.”

Susie Berry riding Wellfields Lincoln during the cross country at the Château de Versailles during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France \ Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Susie Berry was next out with the 11-year-old bay gelding Wellfields Lincoln (Luidam x Priolo xx), owned by Sue Wilkinson and Anne Marling. This pair finished with 15.2 time penalties after an unplanned long route at the final water complex near the end of the track.

“I had to do a long route at the last water which definitely wasn't plan A. He just landed a little bit more to the left than I wanted to go over the first log. I probably could have done it as a risk if it was doing it for myself but as a team, I needed to get home,” she explained afterwards.

“He was class, he kept answering all the questions and kept jumping, he felt full of running, I could have gone another five minutes.”

Incredible athlete

Last to go out on course for Ireland was anchorman Austin O’Connor with the Salty Syndicate’s Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail x Rock King), bred by Kate Jarvey. On the EquiRatings data, Colorado Blue came in as one of the fastest horses in the field and he duly delivered when crossing the finish line on the optimum time of 9.02 minutes to keep the team and individual hopes alive. He remains on his dressage score of 31.37 and is in equal 14th place with Germany’s Julia Krajewski.

“Even wish with his reputation across country, it's a massive mighty relief debit behind us,” O’Connor commented afterwards. “He was super the whole the whole way around. I am beginning to just hope he stays around forever! He's an incredible athlete, whatever he does from here on, and he's been an unbelievable horse of a lifetime for me.”

O’Connor said the atmosphere out there in Versailles where 42,000 spectators lined the ropes of the course was like nothing he has ever experienced.

“I've never ever ridden in an atmosphere like it, it's incredible from the get go to the finish."

Asked if he saw any Irish flags, he replied: “Everywhere! It’s really unbelievable stuff, I know I shouldn't be looking but the crowd are on top of you. People are screaming your name and you're seeing flags and it's just brilliant.”

Click here for full results. Note the Irish team result has not yet been updated.

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