Big Donegal interest in Olympics Show-jumping Team competition
Donegal horse Pacino Amiro to feature in team event after reaching individual final
The start list has been announced for the Tokyo Olympics Team Qualifier in show jumping, and the line-up includes Donegal horse Pacino Amiro.
Rider Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro will be joined on Team Ireland by Shane Sweetnam on Alejandro, and Darragh Kenney on VDL Cartello.
Sweetnam replaces Cian O’Connor who withdrew from the team event after his horse Kilkenny suffered a nose bleed during Wednesday’s individual final.
In a statement after the final, O’Connor said: “I’ve decided not to put Kilkenny forward for the team competition as his well-being comes first. I have no doubt we will have much success together in the future.”
Ireland have been drawn ninth out of 19 teams. The event gets underway on Friday at 11am Irish time. All the first team riders will enter the ring together. Shane Sweetnam will be in that group. Next up will be the second team riders, including Bertram Allen, followed by the third team riders which includes Darragh Kenny.
Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro reached the final in their individual show-jumping event earlier this week, finishing 15th overall.
Pacino Amiro was bred by one of Donegal’s top showjumpers, Simon Scott in Convoy from sire Pacino and out of Scott’s mare Carnone Dancing Queen (by NC Amiro).
The horse was sold to Aiden McGrory, Ballintra who sent him to Kenneth Graham’s stable Lenamore in Muff to produce him. Among the shows in which Pacino Amiro competed as a young horse was the annual showjumping event in Donegal Town.