IRISH international event rider Aoife Clark and her husband Simon are expecting their first baby at the end of April. The popular rider (37), who is based in Oxfordshire, Britain, and her family are delighted and looking forward to the new arrival.

Clark did some light training with Irish eventing chef d'equipe Sally Corscadden's squad in recent months and has her sights firmly fixed on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Aoife Clark told Horse and Hound: “It will certainly be a new type of challenge, but one we are delighted about. I’ve been keeping myself very fit and, all being well, hope to be competing at Bramham in June.”

An 11th hour injury at Millstreet last August unfortunately put paid to Clark's plans of competing with the talented Fernhill Adventure, owned by Richard Last, at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, Tryon, USA, where Corscadden's team of Cathal Daniels, Padraig McCarthy, Sarah Ennis and Sam Watson, brought home Team Silver, ending a 40-year senior Irish eventing championship medal drought.

TOP RESULTS

Clark's top results include being seventh individually at London 2012 as well as winning Blenheim CCI3* in 2013 and Bramham in 2014. She has twice finished in the top 10 at Badminton, taking eighth with Master Crusoe (2013) and Vaguely North (2015).

Aoife Clark said: “This game is full of highs and lows and missing the (WEG) Games last year was particularly tough, especially as my form with Fernhill Adventure had felt spot-on, and it was such a strong team to be a part of. It was so hard for his owners and it felt really cruel, but these things do happen.

“I’m pretty good at picking myself back up and this is a different kind of high to be looking forward to. I have a very strong team of horses at the moment and I’m really hoping to get back in time to have a crack at the Europeans in Luhmühlen in August, and am certainly aiming at Tokyo next year."