Age: 24
Horse: Rioghan Rua (Jack of Diamonds x Flagmount King)
Breeder/owner: Margaret and Frank Kinsella
Form: The 14-year-old chesnut mare ‘Red’ has been the defining horse in Cathal’s life and an Olympic appearance complete their tally of attending every championship possible from junior Europeans right up through the ranks. The pair are known for delivering on the biggest stage, demonstrated when they produced a career best score of 29 to win the bronze medal at the 2019 European Championships to share the podium with German legends Ingrid Klimke and Michael Jung. They were also part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Red is a horse that tactically does not run competitively all too often and from three international runs in 2021, they only completed at Ballindenisk CCI4*, finishing sixth. Saved for the big championships, never rule this pair out of medal contention.
Age: 46
Horse: Horseware Woodcourt Garrison (Garrison Royale x Furisto)
Breeder: Patrick J. Kearns
Owner: Breda Kennedy
Form: Jumping is ‘Tyson’s’ strongest phase and you have to go back to 2019 to find his last jumping fault at international level. The 12-year-old gelding made his championship debut with Ennis at the 2019 European Championships, alongside Daniels and Watson, where they finished 26th individually. Their best result came in the CCI4*-L in Ballindenisk in September 2019 when they finished second on their dressage score of 32.1. What he lacks in dressage, he makes up for in the jumping phases with grit and talent. Like the others, he has just a handful of runs in the past two seasons but, despite making her Olympic debut, Sarah Ennis is ultra-experienced and has nerves of steel under pressure.
Age: 35
Horse: Tullabeg Flamenco (Tullabeg Fusion x Ardenteggle Sir)
Breeder: Nick Cousins
Owner: Vahe Bogossian
Form: This combination have produced their two best dressage tests in recent months and impressed when finishing on their first phase score of 26.9 at Ballindenisk back in April to finish second. It is an Olympic debut for Sam who has plenty of experience at European and World championships, while Flamenco or ‘Danny’ made his championship debut at the European Championships in 2019 where 20 penalties on cross-country day cost them dearly after they opened on a score of 29.6.
Sam reports he has never felt more prepared for a championship in his life and the stunning dun is bound to catch the eye in Tokyo. This pair could be very competitive come the final day.
Age: 46
Horse: Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail x Rock Kind)
Breeder: Mellon Stud
Owner: The Salty Syndicate and Austin O’Connor
Form: No doubt a tough and close call, Austin was chosen as the alternate rider with the 12-year-old grey gelding. The pair have been ultra-competitive for the past two seasons with solid cross-country and jumping form, which will be a help if he is called upon in Tokyo. Some of their best results include third in the CCI4*-S at Little Downham last October behind Piggy March, as well as fourth in the CCI4*-L at Ballendenisk in April. Perhaps their best results was at Bicton last month when, from a mega startlist of over 100 which included all the British front runners, they placed 10th when adding just time penalties to their dressage score of 27.9.
Austin represented Ireland at two previous Olympic Games, at Sydney in 2000 (Fabio) and Beijing in 2008 (Hobby Du Mée) where he finished 21st individually.
Chef d’equipe: Sally Corscadden
Sally Corscadden was appointed the High Performance director of the senior eventing team in February 2017 and just a year later led them to the silver medal at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, where Olympic qualification was secured.
She was a member of Ireland’s Bronze medal-winning team at the 1993 European Championships and had previously served as High Performance manager of the Irish Young Rider teams.
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