Eleven combinations have met the qualification criteria for the upcoming Europeans – the highest number of Irish athletes ever to do so for a championship – and HSI Dressage High Performance Director Anne Marie Dunphy has named the nominated entries as follows;

Jennifer Harnett (based in Amsterdam) with Pilates Amsterdam’s Eximio (by Zircon).

Sorrell Klatzko (Co. Kildare) with her own and Janine Shoffner’s Turbo (by Totilas).

Abigail Lyle (Co. Down) with Fenella Quinn’s Farrell (by Fabergas) and with her own and Caroline Clarry’s Giraldo (by Harmony’s Rousseau).

Anna Merveldt (Co. Kildare) with Mario Greco and Giovanna Mazza’s Esporim (by Pagaw).

Fenella Quinn (based in Aberdeen) with her own, Compton Ross and Jacqui Ross’s Hawtins Delicato (by Diamond Hit).

Judy Reynolds (Co. Kildare) with her own and Patrick Heavey’s For Fun 51 (by Furstenball OLD) and BG J. Hinnemann & Next Generation Dressurpferde’s Rockman Royal NG (by Rock Forever).

Also long listed for Ireland having achieved the qualification criteria:

Carolyn Mellor (Co. Down) with her own Gouverneur M (by Voice).

Dane Rawlins (based in Sussex) with his own and Greg Powell’s Espoire (by Ehrenmann).

Judy Reynolds (Co. Kildare) with Wejdan Majed A M AL Malki’s Faisao (by Spartacus).

The final squad of four to represent Ireland in Riesenbeck next month, plus non-travelling reserves, will be announced ahead of the definite entries.

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In the Grade I Freestyle Individual Championship at the ECCO FEI World Para Dressage Championships at Herning in Denmark Murphy and Cleverboy achieved a second podium finish this week.

A score of 78.387% in Sunday’s Freestyle To Music Grand Prix with the 15-year-old gelding Cleverboy saw them claim a second bronze medal of the Championships.

Italy’s Sara Morganti took the gold medal with a score of 80.653 %, while silver went to Latvia’s Rihards Snikus on a score of 78.400%.

Horse Sport Ireland Para Dressage High Performance Director, Debora Pijpers said:

“I am very proud of how all four Irish Para Dressage combinations presented themselves this World Championships. Highlights were absolutely Michael Murphy and Cleverboy obtaining a historical bronze medal in the individual competition and a bronze medal again in the Freestyle (Grade I), with a gap of 0,013% separating them from a silver medal.

“The aim for the team result was to achieve a top 12 position, so I’m very pleased with the 9th position and the promising scores (76,072%, 69,824%, 67,975%) that contributed to this. I feel that each rider as an individual but also our team has grown from all valuable experiences in Tokyo last year. We are very happy with the results now and we are motivated and inspired to develop and improve our team further!”

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Speaking after the prize giving Michael Murphy said:

“He’s an amazing horse to go from competing at Grand Prix level dressage to a walk test takes a special horse and he is, he’s amazing! He took it all in his stride and I want to thank my trainer Elder Klatzko for getting me here and for getting Cleverboy here looking and feeling so well and to his owner Bronte Watson”

The Para-Dressage High Performance Director, Debora Pijpers said:

“Today was an exciting and very good first day of competition here at the World Championships. Michael Murphy rode a very active and sparkling test and really showed the quality of his Cleverboy. With a score of 74,143% he won a historical bronze medal for Ireland in Grade I. I’m very proud of Michael and Cleverboy and his support team. They all showed true sportsmanship and have given it their very best. I want to sincerely thank Sport Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, Para Equestrian Ireland, and Paralympics Ireland for all their support!”

Horse Sport Ireland Chief Executive, Denis Duggan, said:

“This was an outstanding performance from Michael and Cleverboy against the very best in the world. Huge congratulations to Michael, Sue, Debora and the entire team here in Herning. It has been a hugely successful few weeks for HSI’s High Performance teams on the back of last weekend’s team gold medals in Pony Showjumping and Eventing. Today was the first day of the Para dressage and Showjumping competitions here at the World Championships and I would like to wish all competitors the very best of luck in the coming days.”

Michael Murphy and Cleverboy represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where they achieved 4^th position, Michael has also represented Ireland at many international events including the Para Dressage European Championships in 2019.

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Ireland’s first competitor, Sam Watson started early at 08:30 in the morning in Japan. The Clonmel man rode Flamenco as they completed his routine in an elegant fashion with 34.30 in penalty scores.

This sits himself at 14th in the individual event after session 1 while also placing 12th in the team event.

The 35-year-old Watson was happy with his performance, finishing ahead of seven other jockeys while Team GB’s Oliver Townsend sits on top after riding Ballaghmor Class.

.@watsoneventing is in next so we’re hoping Flamenco’s woken up a bit https://t.co/dTYDLv4uJN

— The FEI (@FEI_Global) July 30, 2021

Next up for Ireland in Session two at 09:30 was Austin O’Connor riding the Irish bred Colorado Blue . These two completed the course with a penalty score of 38.00.

This sits himself in 34th of 42 of the individual event while bringing Ireland to 13th in the team event.

Watson and Flamenco have dropped into 28th after the second session while Britain’s Townsend still holds first with his routine only have 23.60 penalty score.

#Equestrian

The second session of the #Dressage phase in #Eventing has begun! We wish Austin O’Connor and the Irish-bred Colorado Blue the very best of luck! #TeamIreland #Tokyo2020 #HorseSportIreland @HorseSportIRL @attington @FEI_Global pic.twitter.com/QfIgN9gfZ7

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 30, 2021

Ireland’s third member of the equestrian team will take to the ring tomorrow in Day two, Session three just after midnight.

Sarah Ennis will be riding Woodcourt Garrison as Ireland’s last hopes of bring up their score in the team event.

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Their score of 68.432% meant they finished sixth of 10 competitors in their Grand Prix Group D test at the Olympic Games.

Their score ultimately wasn’t enough to see them qualify for Wednesday’s Individual Final however. It was another impressive display from Holstein who was competing at her fourth Olympics while 12-year-old Sambuca, whom Heike bred herself, was making her Olympic debut.

Speaking after their performance, Heike said:

“I was really happy with her [Sambuca]. She went into the ring and really concentrated. We had a few little errors that were my fault. In the first medium trot I had her back a bit too much. I was really happy with the passage and the piaffe has improved a lot. She was really relaxed in the walk and the changes were good.”

The Irish dressage competitor continued:

“I am really proud of her. When she was a little foal I never thought that we would get this far. It is a long road and lots of things can happen. In 2019 I finally thought, this might happen!”

All Irish equestrian athletes at the Games are wearing yellow ribbons in commemoration of the loss of a highly talented young Irish athlete, Tiggy Hancock, in June.

The Irish Eventing team get their Olympic campaign underway on Friday while Ireland’s Show Jumping team will be in action at the Games on Tuesday August 3rd.

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To explain the situation, the dressage team qualified for the Olympics in 2019. Now two of those riders can no longer participate due to personal reasons and issues with their horses.

With two replacement riders, Ireland could still qualify but Horse Sport Ireland (HIS) has decided not to. They have since been sent at least two appeals to change their decision.

Belgium has been given Ireland’s place at the Olympics now. There still is some hope that there may be an intervention to let Ireland compete.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) set the international qualification or MER for the Olympics at 66 percent.

Dane Rawlins and James Connor both made the standard and were set to be part of Ireland’s first-ever dressage Olympic team, but that dream could be shattered.

Dressage Ireland released a statement saying:

“This decision came as a shock both to the equestrian industry and to both Rawlins and Connor. Horse Sport Ireland could have chosen to have a dressage team – they chose not to.

“They also failed to announce their decision until it was too late for anyone to appeal their decision which seriously questions the governance of the process.”

‘The sport has lost’: Tokyo dream at an end for Irish dressage team https://t.co/RIFBxaQ0o8 pic.twitter.com/fFXPm38QFG

— Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) July 5, 2021

As it stands Heike Holstein is the only rider heading to Tokyo 2020 at the end of the month.

At this late stand and already having two appeals denied, it is unlikely that the HSI will change its mind.

The riders can only hope for a last-minute intervention by the Minister of Sport or the Olympic council to help their Olympic dreams.

Supporters have defended the riding team on social media spreading messages with the hashtag #letthemride.

“Whether Ireland gets to make history by sending the first-ever Irish dressage team to the Olympics remains to be seen,” added Dressage Ireland.

Statement on Facebook this evening [2/7/2021] from @DaneRawlins1 about the Irish Olympic Dressage Team Appeal.

'We lost. Thanks for the support. Time to move on.'#equestrian @DressageIreland #Horses #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #Dressage #Horses #Ireland pic.twitter.com/pHwqmYgvJL

— Paul Nolan (@Nolan_Paul) July 2, 2021

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The Irishwoman recorded an impressive ninth place finish in the FEI World Cup Freestyle Grand Prix at Salzburg, Austria.

Merveldt and the 12-year-old gelding Esporim produced an excellent score of 73.705% when drawn second to go of 13 combinations.  The score kept the Irish competitor in second place until the midway point of the competition.

German Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB took victory on a score of 87.960%. Her compatriot Isabel Werth was second with Weihegold Old on a score of 84.720%.

Western European League Table

Anna Merveldt’s result yesterday now moves her up to equal fifth place on the Western European League table on 26 points. The top nine combinations will qualify for the World Cup Final.

One final qualifying round remains, at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, in March.

The 2021 FEI World Cup Dressage Final will take place in Gothenburg from March 31st to April 5th.

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