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Denis Lynch to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games

Charlotte White, H&H deputy news editor

4 July, 2008

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Tipperary-born Denis Lynch and the ten year-old gelding Lantinus will be Ireland's sole show jumping combination at this August's Beijing Olympic Games, Robert Spaine of Horse Sport Ireland has revealed.

Splaine said: "Their superb clear round at the Nations' Cup in Aachen was the final confirmation I needed that we have a really top class combination here that can hold its own with any in the world.

"Denis and the horse are at the peak of their form, and if they can maintain this until August then Ireland will be very competitive in Hong Kong."

Lynch, who is 32, currently tops the Global Champions' Tour rankings with 'Lantinus' and has racked up an almost unprecedented series of victories in Grands Prix including Doha in Qatar, La Baule in France, and Rome, Italy, together with notable Nations' Cup performances for

Ireland in the Samsung Super League.

He said: "It was always my ambition to jump for Ireland, and I was very fortunate to achieve that. But now to have the honour of representing my country at the Olympics will be a dream come true."

Irish number one show jumper Jessica Kurten ruled herself out of Olympic contention last month and is currently serving a two month FEI ban following the detection of a banned substance in one of her horse's systems last year.

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