O'Connor Takes Bronze Medal in Show Jumpion

Ireland's Cian O'Connor and the gelding Blue Loyd took the Olympic Bronze Medal in show jumping this afternoon after a thrilling jump-off.

One of just 20 to go clear from the 37 finalists in the first round of the Olympic Final, the duo picked up one time fault in the last round, as did Gerco Schroder from the Netherlands, riding London.

However, hopes of a gold for either rider were dashed when Switzerland's Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissononets posted the only zero score of the final round.

As Schroder and O'Connor were on an equal penalty score, under Olympic rules they then had to compete for medal position in a jump-off that immediately followed the final round.

Schroder went first on the shortened jump-off course with a clear round and when O'Connor's turn came, he picked up the pace and was well ahead on time when Blue Loyd clipped the very last fence, putting four faults on the card and leaving the Irishman in third place.

O'Connor bought the 12 year-old gelding Blue Loyd only last year, and was narrowly outpointed on Monday in the third qualifier for the final, with a total of 20 faults on the board. However, this was high enough to put him in joint first reserve position for the final, and when Swedish rider Rolf-Goran Bengtsson's horse Casall was withdrawn this morning, the Meath rider took a slot for the last two rounds.