Registering just a single time fault Ireland’s show jumping team of Peter Moloney, Paul O’Shea, Darragh Kenny and Cian O’Connor put in an outstanding performance to win the FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona on Sunday and more importantly to gain qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

This brings the number of Irish equestrian teams qualified for the Olympics to three as our eventing and dressage team secured their places earlier this year and last. This is a truly historic achievement.

Pressure

The Irish weathered serious pressure in Thursday’s first round, thankfully a clear round from Darragh Kenny on Balou du Reventon secured the Irish team fifth place and a place in Sunday’s final. However, the struggle was not over yet, main rivals for Olympic qualification – Italy and Columbia – were also into the final. We had to place above those two to earn qualification.

In a tense final the Irish remained brilliantly cool. An initial four faults from Peter left them well in contention but Ireland put the pressure on when Paul, Darragh and Cian all delivered clear rounds. A single time fault had them top the group of eight – ahead of defending champions Belgium and also above Olympic slot rivals Italy and Columbia who finished in fourth and eighth.

History

Down the years Ireland’s show jumping team participation in the Olympics has been fraught with eliminations, withdrawals and controversies that have all played their part in our lack of glory.

A Irish withdrawal from the 1936 Olympics dashed our first ever bid. At London 1948 one rider taking the wrong course caused elimination. We withdrew from Helsinki 1952. But at Stockholm 1986 we were a creditable seventh out of 20. Elimination damaged any Irish hopes at Rome 1960 and at Mexico 1968.

Over the next four Olympics our civilian riders were banned as professionals. So we had no teams in Munich, Montreal, Moscow or Los Angeles. Eventually in 1996 the ban on professionals was lifted and we sent a combined army/civilian team to Seoul 1988 where they came 11th. We finished 14th at Barcelona 1994 and in the heat of Atlanta 1996, team hopes also wilted.

We did not travel to Sydney 2000 and it was on to Athens 2004 where our individual gold had to be handed back. Beijing was no better. Cian landed an individual bronze at London 2012. We did not qualify a team for Rio where a foot in the water denied Greg Broderick and Going Global.

So, we still crave team honours. Could Tokyo be it?