Ireland has qualified for Friday’s team show jumping final at the Paris Olympics.
Daniel Coyle had a superb clear round on the mare Legacy while Cork Shane Sweetnam, the first Irish rider in action, had one fence down for four faults on the Irish-bred James Kann Cruz.
Ireland’s anchor rider Cian O’Connor, who won a bronze medal in the individual event at the London Games 12 years ago, also had one fence down and picked up a time fault on Maurice.
Ireland finished today’s qualifier on a total score of nine faults in a combined time of 230.22 which left them in sixth place of the 20 countries that competed.
Ireland will be joined in the final by Germany, USA, Great Britain, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Belgium, Israel and Mexico.
Meanwhile Switzerland, Canada and Brazil were among the high profile teams who have missed the cut for the final.
All 10 teams will start the final on a zero score, with the competition starting at 1pm Irish time on Friday in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.
Ireland has never won a team Olympic medal in show jumping but there are high hopes that Michael Blake’s squad will end the famine on Friday.