THE enormity of the achievement by the Irish dressage team to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time ever must not be underestimated. It might seem incredible to think that a nation so steeped in equestrianism has never before managed this feat, but so it is.

With the world-class Judy Reynolds, a multiple winner of The Irish Field dressage award, and Vancouver K as anchors, the team of Anna Merveldt, Heike Holstein and Kate Dwyer took the second of three places on offer for Tokyo 2020. Both Anna and Heike have also been honoured with the same award from us in the past.