10 Irish event riders make the cut ahead of Rio 2016
Ten riders have made the cut for the Irish eventing squad ahead of Rio 2016.
Four have been listed with two horses — Austin O’Connor, Joseph Murphy, Aoife Clark and Michael Ryan.
Four members of the London 2012 team, Aoife Clark, Joseph Murphy, Michael Ryan and Mark Kyle, are among the lineup.
Camilla Speirs has not been named on the squad despite competing at London 2012 for Ireland.
Nineteen-year-old Cathal Daniels is the youngest rider of the group who helped the team secure their first Nations Cup win at Boekelo.
The combinations on the current squad are as follows:
- Austin O’Connor with Kilpatrick Knight and Balham Houdini
- Joseph Murphy with Westwinds Hercules and Sportsfield Othello (pictured top)
- Aoife Clark with Fernhill Adventure and Wasting Light
- Clare Abbott with Euro Prince
- Sam Watson with Horseware Lukeswell
- Jonty Evans with Cooley Rorkes Drift
- Mark Kyle with Jemilla
- Cathal Daniels with Rioghan Rua
- Padraig McCarthy with Simon Porloe
- Michael Ryan with Ballylynch Adventure and Dun Lough Striker
Out of the 14 selected horses, 12 are Irish Sport Horses.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Related articles:
- FEI president tells H&H he is confident new venue will be ready ahead of Rio 2016
- Japan invests in elite dressage horses ahead of Rio Olympics
- ‘I tried everything possible’: no Rio Olympics place for Ireland’s showjumpers
London 2012
At the last Olympics, the Irish team finished fifth behind Sweden.
Aoife Clark was the highest placed Irish rider with Master Crusoe, finishing seventh behind Britain’s Tina Cook.
Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise were 14th and Mark Kyle was 21st riding Coolio.
Michael Ryan (Ballylynch Adventure) and Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just A Jiff)were eliminated in the cross-country.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.