THE Irish show jumping team exited the Tokyo Olympic Games at the team qualifier stage on Friday evening.

Sadly, Michael Blake’s team suffered a disappointing start when Shane Sweetnam and the 12-year-old gelding Alejandro were eliminated after a fall on course. Sweetnam was the alternate rider and came in for the team competition in place of Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny.

After hitting the first part of the treble combination, the gelding seemed to lose confidence and knocked the next few fences before paddled through the Liverpool oxer at fence nine and falling to the ground. Both horse and rider were okay after the fall and walked out of the arena.

In the new Olympic format, with just three to a team and no drop score, Sweetnam was given four penalties more than the worst finishing score and the squad were automatically placed below every other team that have scores counting from all three riders. The gelding was stiff and sore after the fall.

Speaking to RTÉ, Sweetnam said: “Up to the triple combination he felt good. He pulled the shoe and overreached and got unsettled. He is a very careful horse and got a bit rattled, a bit upset, and then we were going nowhere and it was over.”

Team vet Marcus Swail said: “He fell on to his left side and he is a little bit uncomfortable in his left front fetlock. He is a bit stiff and sore, nothing concerning in the long-term, but my assessment this evening unfortunately was that it wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about continuing with him should we have been in a position to qualify for tomorrow and that was my advice to Michael Blake.”

Bertram Allen (Pacino Amiro) and Darragh Kenny (VDL Cartello) were then withdrawn from the competition.

Sweden favourites

There was plenty of drama of Santiago Varela’s big meaty course. The Liverpool at nine down to the tall vertical at 10 was tricky, as was the last line home, with two plank verticals down to a square oxer. The time allowed caught out many riders.

Following a classy performance in the individual competition, Sweden once again look like the favourites after qualifying as the best team and they will be drawn last to go in the final today (Saturday).

Clear rounds

Silver medallist Peder Fredricson, Henrik von Eckermann and Malin Baryard-Johnsson all produced clear rounds. The Belgian and German teams went through in second place with just four time faults on the board apiece, ahead of Switzerland who qualified on 10 faults.

The USA, France, Britain, Brazil, The Netherlands and Argentina also qualified. Argentina got through on a score of 27 faults.