THE sole Irish-bred Tokyo medal in eventing came courtesy of Ballaghmor Class (Courage II – Kilderry Place) and Oliver Townend’s gold for Britain. This pair, stellar performers for the Irish Sport Horse studbook, also finished fifth individually.

Any locals Carol Hickey met in supermarket queues or out walking are well aware of the Limerick grey’s presence at Tokyo, as he was bred by her late father Noel. “I tell everyone I meet about the horse going to the Olympics. Even last night, I was watching it and thinking ‘Is this real?’ It’s a fairytale story where he came from.”