Ireland have made a very competitive start to the Olympic Eventing competition at Rio 2016, with the team lying in provisional sixth place overall halfway through the opening Dressage phase, and with only a handful of points separating the top eight teams. 

Tipperary's Padraig McCarthy had the honour of being the first Irish Equestrian rider to take to the arena at Deodora Olympic Park. Thirty-nine year-old McCarthy produced a personal best score of 46.80 penalties with the 16-year-old gelding Simon Porloe to finish the day in 12th place overall.

Clare Abbott from Co Down and The Irish Sport Horse Europrince, also finished with a personal best Dressage score of 47.00, and is just one place behind her teammate,  in 13th spot.

Tomorrow Sunday will see the second half of the Eventing competitors complete their Dressage tests, including Ireland's Jonty Evans riding Cooley Rorkey's Drift (ISH) and Mark Kyle with Jemilla.

The Cross Country phase of the Eventing competition takes place on Monday, while the individual and team Eventing medals will be decided following the final Show Jumping phase on Tuesday.

Judy Reynolds will begin the Olympic Dressage competition on Wednesday in Rio with her horse Vancouver K, while Greg Broderick and The Irish Sport Horse, MHS Going Global, start the Olympic Show Jumping competition on Sunday August 14th.