Sun. Dec 22nd, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Daniel Coyle, on board Legacy, missed out on the medals in the Olympic individual showjumping final at Versailles.

The Ireland duo hadn’t put a foot wrong in three rounds over the past week, posting two clears in the team event before again producing a flawless display in Monday’s individual qualifier.

However this was a brutally tough test for an Olympic final.

Of the thirty starters, only three went clear and would go on to jump-off for the medals.

Northern Irishman Coyle had to wait and watch 27 riders struggle with the course before his opportunity came.

For a while it looked like Legacy would once again put herself in a position to challenge for the medals.

But two thirds of the way round, on a tight left hand turn to a tough double, Coyle and Legacy had their first fence down of the Olympics and the medal chance had gone.

Three more followed in quick succession and the Ardmore rider decided enough was enough and retired.

Ireland’s other representative in the final, Shane Sweetnam, piloting James Kann Cruz, had three fences down to also end his hopes.

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