WHAT a rollercoaster of a ride the huge challenge that is Tokyo threw at the Irish eventing camp in the last 48 hours.

Barely had the plane carrying Rioghan Rua’s Galway owner Mags Kinsella touched down when the devastating news came from Tokyo that Cathal Daniels’ brilliant mount would not start for Ireland in the dressage phase (see adjoining news story).

We wish Sally Corscadden and her team the very best of Irish luck this weekend (Tokyo pages 80-84) and will be following them every step of the way.

Taking centre stage ahead of this weekend’s cross-country phase is British world number one Oliver Townend on the Irish-bred Ballaghmor Class (ISH). Bred by Limerick’s late Noel Hickey, the 14-year-old grey is by Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH), Courage II stood at Kedrah House Stud with Tom Meagher and family.

Successful in the RDS young event horse class, Ballaghmor Class was sold at auction where he was bought by Katherine Charlton and Judy Tobin. Hunted with the Fingal Harriers and the Ward Union, Ballaghmor Class is a graduate of the future event horse league and the Millstreet Discovery class. Since teaming up with Townend, the rest is history and we will be on the edge of our seats for this weekend’s action.

Speaking of breeders, some have been in touch with us to say they would love to be allowed see their horses perform at the upcoming RDS National Championships. Whether that can be accommodated with the backdrop of strict Covid protocols looks doubtful but at the same time, there was a 1,000 crowd allowed at Galway races this week.

Ireland’s paralympic riders were announced just as we went to press – well done to Rosemary Gaffney (Werona), Tamsin Addison (Fahrenheit 212), Michael Murpy (Cleverboy) and Kate Kerr Horan (Serafina T). The Games take place in Tokyo from August 26th-29th.

HSI para dressage high performance director Debora Pijpers said: “I am very excited to take a team to Tokyo! All the High Performance riders have worked hard in the past two years. I want to thank all the Irish High Performance riders, Horse Sport Ireland and Paralympic Ireland for their efforts. Without them, sending a team would not be possible. Performing at the Paralympic Games is challenging, and I expect that Tokyo 2020 might even be more challenging because of Covid. However, I believe in the potential and ability of the selected riders and I am confident that these riders will do everything that is within their reach to perform to their potential.”

Follow Judith Faherty’s Tokyo updates on www.theirishfield.ie.