Australia’s eventing Olympic hopes on the line after being forced into qualifying

The Paris Olympic hopes of Australia’s three-day eventing team will be decided by a qualifying event for Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia and Oceania in Ireland this week.

Australia has a proud tradition in eventing at the Olympics and is always considered a medal prospect in the gruelling three-day contest but needs to finish in the top two at the Millstreet qualifying event to be in Paris.

The Tokyo silver medallists were forced into this qualifying event after failing to finish in the top seven teams at last year’s World Championship.

There are two spots for Paris on offer in the 3-star event at Millstreet, where China, Japan, South Africa and Thailand will also be looking for an Olympic spot. New Zealand will field a team but they have already qualified by winning bronze at last year’s World Championship.

Australia has sent its strongest team – Andrew Hoy, Shane Rose and Kevin McNab, who won silver in Tokyo, joined by Shenae Lowings.

“It is not something we planned on but we had a bad day in the cross-country last year at the Worlds and it means we have to qualify here,” Rose said. “It seems strange that we are in Ireland to do it, but it is the place where everyone can get to with their horses without quarantine problems.

“It is not really something we planned for, but we just have to get it done because there is really no second chance.

“You can qualify through a points system but that would mean having a team in Europe for the rest of the year.

“We are used to competing at 4-star level at this sort of event but it is a 3-star event, which is a little easier course and allows more countries to compete.”