Ireland's Eventers Prepare for First Competition

Ireland's five-strong Three Day Eventing team are now in the final stages of preparation for the the first equestrian competition of the 2012 Olympic Games, which begins on Saturday.

Last night (Wednesday) at the meeting of the international chefs d'equipe, Ireland was drawn as fifth team to compete of the 13 nations taking part in eventing.

On Friday morning the Irish horses will attend the veterinary trot-up at the equestrian park in Greenwich, which is held to establish the fitness of all horses scheduled to compete, and following that dressage starting times will be allocated in the afternoon for all competitors who pass the inspection.

Dressage is the first phase of three-day eventing, and will take place over two days, followed by cross country on Monday and the final show jumping phase on Tuesday.

Team Ireland Equestrian's Eventing Manager Ginny Elliot said this evening: ""I've just walked the cross country course at Greenwich and it's quite hilly and twisting with some technical fences. It's beautifully presented, but I think the time will be very very difficult to achieve."

Ireland's eventing team at London is, in alphabetical order:

• Aoife Clarke - Master Crusoe (Owner Lily White Syndicate)
• Mark Kyle - Coolio (Owners Ronnie Bartlett & Mark Kyle)
• Joseph Murphy - Electric Cruise (Owners Noel Good, Jill Andrews & A O'Callaghan)
• Michael Ryan - Ballylynch Adventure (Owners: Carol & Tom Henry & Sheila Foley)
• Camilla Speirs - Portersize Just a Jiff (Owners Bridget & Camilla Speirs)

All selected horses are Irish Sport Horses.