Ireland’s equestrian campaign at the Olympic Games in Paris came to a close today, with disappointment at the finish for Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Daniel Coyle in the individual Show Jumping final. The Irish pair had qualified for the final in some style on Monday after both jumping clear, however the final ultimately proved a step too far after a week of tough jumping.
Derry’s Daniel Coyle and Legacy were the third last combination to jump in the decider and were clear over the early part of the course. However, after jumping three clear rounds earlier in the week, Legacy appeared to tire midway through the course and after picking up 16 faults, Coyle made the decision to retire.
Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (ISH) were second last to go and would finish with 12 faults which left them in 22nd place overall. Just three combinations jumped clear in the first round of the final and it was Germany’s Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 who were crowned the new Olympic Individual Champions, taking the gold medal with the only double clear. Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Dynamix De Belheme took the individual silver medal with 4 faults in the jump-off in 38.38 seconds, while the bronze medal went to The Netherlands Maikel Van Der Vleuten and Beauville Z with 4 faults in 39.12.
On Friday at the Games, the Irish Show Jumping team of Shane Sweetnam, Daniel Coyle and Cian O’Connor finished in seventh place overall in the team Show Jumping competition in Paris where Great Britain won the gold medal.
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (ISH) in action during the Olympic Show Jumping individual final (Photo: Libby Law Photography)