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Ireland's show jumping team secure Olympic qualification

RTÉ · RTÉ Sport · 2026-08-22T07:49:41+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Ireland's show jumping team has secured qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after finishing seventh in the team final at the FEI World Championships in Aachen. The result delivers one of seven available Olympic team quota places from the World Championships, alongside Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland and France. The United States had already qualified as host nation. Germany claimed the World Championship team gold medal with a dominant performance, securing the nation's first World Championship team gold on home soil. The hosts maintained their advantage throughout the competition and had already secured gold before their fourth rider, Richard Vogel and United Touch S, entered the arena for the second round. Belgium took silver on 11.69 penalties, while Great Britain secured bronze on 12.98 penalties. Ireland's qualification was achieved in challenging circumstances after Darragh Kenny’s Eddy Blue was withdrawn ahead of the final. They therefore entered the decisive round without the benefit of a discard score, leaving every remaining Irish performance to count towards the final team total. Cian O'Connor and Chatolinue PS added four faults as did Bertram Allen and Qonquest de Rigo and Shane Sweetnam and CFS James Kann Cruz also had one rail down to complete Ireland’s team effort. However, this was sufficient to ensure that Ireland finished seventh overall on 23.69 penalties, guaranteeing a place in Los Angeles. Individually Sweetnam and CFS James Kann Cruz finished in 17th place, Cian O'Connor and Chatolinue PS finished 31st in the individual standings on 9.10 penalties, while Bertram Allen and Qonquest de Rigo were 35th on 9.70 penalties. Sweetnam and CFS James Kann Cruz will carry Irish hopes in Sunday's individual World Championship final, as the only duo to place in the top-25. Sunday's final will take place on Sunday at 1pm and will be broadcast on the RTÉ Player.