Quotes from the squad

>Paul O’Shea talking about his mount, Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu: “He has so much heart. That is all I was doing the last few days – I just kept reminding myself how good he is. If I was starting to doubt anything, I just reminded myself what I am sitting on. I am so so fortunate to have such an incredible horse that really gives me 110% the whole time.”

On coming back onto the team after the disappointment on missing out on a place at the European Championships, O’Shea added: “That is all in the past. Of course, we would like to have jumped, but it’s all in the past and, actually, everything is a learning experience. We are here, there is good team spirit.”

On his plan with Machu Picchu for the rest of the season: “I’m not 100% sure but this is probably it for the whole year. I don’t like to do too many shows with my horses. I think last year he did 11 and he has done 10 so far, so maybe one more. I am waiting 23 years to have two horses like this, it’s been a long time and it’s been a lot of work, and I am very grateful to have them now so I want to mind them.”

>Cian O’Connor has been to two Olympic Games (2004 and 2012) and he spoke about what makes them so special.

“The Olympics has consumed my life for over 20 years. When I started initially, I someway cockily put ‘working towards the Olympics 2004’ on the side of my truck, much to the disgust of many locals. We went to that Olympics Games and we won it. The history has been written since then, that was a tough period for me. I came back and battled to get to the London Olympics and won a bronze medal, something I will have forever.

“Since then we have struggled to get there, so this is very emotional to be part of this great squad and to have a chance to go to Tokyo. As Shane [Sweetnam] said, this opens the door for other people, there is so much strength and depth within the Irish riders. Hopefully we are in with a shout to go to Tokyo. The Olympics Games is the place to be, there are classes and competitions every week, but the Olympics is different, it touches the man on the street.”

>Peter Moloney (29) has burst on to the scene this season with the Princess Haya-owned Chianti’s Champion. Asked if he felt the pressure when first to go, he said: “It was a little bit of pressure. This was our goal all year. But there is a great support team around me now, guys with a lot of experience. Cian [O’Connor] has been a massive support to me, and to have an owner like Princess Haya putting those kind of animals under you, it takes a lot of the stress away.”

>Shane Sweetnam was the fifth man in Barcelona and felt more nervous than ever. “Honestly, it’s way more nerve wrecking on the ground than when you’re riding. I was more nervous today than I was in a long long time. This [win] is for us all us riders, not just us here, there are 10 more guys who will be in contention for next year. For us to finally get it is amazing, we are all part of this squad and hopefully I will be in Japan next year.”

On wearing the ‘Babington Strong’ armbands in support of their good friend Kevin Babington, Sweetnam added: “Kevin has been following us so it is great that he knows that we are here for him. Kevin is a fighter. The last team to be at the Olympics, he was on that team. He is a big part of the Irish equestrian history, we are all hoping that he can get as far as he can with his recovery.”

>Darragh Kenny has just moved into the top 10 in the world (number nine) and won a five-star class at the show, as well as jumping two crucial rounds for Ireland. “It’s all down to the horses that I have, I am so lucky at the moment, I have an incredibly string,” he said.

“I love to jump for my country, it’s the most important thing you can do. Today, to pull off that clear round to make us go to Tokyo, that was so important for me.

“I have always dreamed of going to the Olympics, so to be able to qualify us and have the chance of going, it’s fantastic. The win was just a great bonus.”