Cian O'Connor into showjumping final

There was a super start to Ireland’s Showjumping campaign today with all three jumping clear rounds inside the time allowed in the Individual Qualifier to claim their places in tomorrow’s Individual Final.

The top 30 combinations qualified out of the 73 starters, which consisted of 25 clears inside the time, four combinations with one time penalty and one pair with two-time faults.

Best of the Irish with the second fastest time of the night was Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello.

Finishing closely behind Kenny with the sixth fastest time of the night on 85.18 was Bertram Allen and Irish-bred Pacino Amiro (ISH).

Last to go of the Irish trio was Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny (ISH).

O’Connor judged the timing to perfection as he crossed the line in 88.66 just inside the time allowed of 89 seconds.

Kilkenny, another young nine-year-old gelding, was hitting the lights and there was no fear of him touching any of the poles including an expressive jump over the water fence.

Speaking after the qualifier, O’Connor talked us through the atmosphere for young horses like Kilkenny:

“He really grew to this atmosphere, and it might be strange to talk about atmosphere when there are no people here but with the lights on and the spooky jumps, everything is new.

"It can press a young horse. He [Kilkenny] was excellent and I think he will get better and better each day. I can’t wait for it.”

Action continues tomorrow in Equestrian Park from 11am (Irish time) with the Individual Final.