Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

CORK SEES VITAL BATTLE FOR OLYMPIC PLACES THIS WEEKEND

 BALLINDENISK in County Cork hosts a vital Olympic Qualifier in three day eventing this weekend.

The event is the last chance for Irish riders to secure Olympic ranking points before the cut off date of March 1st.

Forty seven riders from six different countries will take part along with all the Irish riders who are in contention to secure Olympic places for Ireland, with the event starting at 8am tomorrow morning (Friday) and finishing on Sunday afternoon.

Ireland currently has three riders in qualification position and four more within striking distance. However, only 13 places are available and with another qualifier taking place in Italy this weekend, Ireland could find all their riders displaced by rivals from other countries.

Ireland can secure a maximum of five places and will need to secure at least three places to make up a team for the Games.

The Irish riders in contention for qualification are Michael Ryan, Mark Kyle, Camilla Speirs, Jayne Doherty, Capt Geoff Curran, Ciaran Glynn and Elizabeth Power.

Meanwhile in show jumping, Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch head to Gothenburg in Sweden in a bid to tie down two Olympic places for Ireland, with March 1st again the cut off point.

Gothenburg is the last major show before the Olympic qualification deadline, and both riders are well placed to secure two places for Ireland.

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