MEDAL dreams for the Irish three day event team were uncompromisingly ground into the Georgia clay shortly after seven o'clock yesterday morning with the squad being dealt the most crushing of blows when both Sir Knight and Enterprise were withdrawn lame from the final horse inspection.
Sir Knight had put up a truly sterling performance for Alfie Buller around Tuesday's cross country to clock the fifth fastest time of the day, but a cut to his near fetlock joint required stitching and the horse was obviously sore when trotted up in front of the ground jury yesterday morning.
The 12 year old gelding was sent for a more detailed veterinary examination, joining Eric Smiley's Enterprise, which had been sent to the holding area just moments beforehand to the horrified disbelief of the Irish supporters, until then mostly oblivious to the fact that there had been concern about both horses overnight.
Team vet Hugh Suffern had also been called upon to stitch a cut to Enterprise's elbow joint and the grey was feeling the effects of bruising around the injury.
Unfortunately, chef d'equipe Helen O'Keeffe was advised to withdraw both Enterprise and Sir Knight by the official vet in the holding area.
The scenario could have been worse. A cross country clear from the usually dependable Enterprise, instead of two uncharacteristic stops, would have left the Irish quartet in second place overnight and in line for silver. To have lost the two horses then would have been even more heartbreaking. As things worked out, clear show jumping rounds from all the Irish would still not have been rewarded with a place on the medal podium.
Those were reserved for the defending champions, Australia, who scored a runaway victory over the hosts, with New Zealand holding on for bronze.
Irish misfortunes continued in the show jumping arena, with Virginia McGrath parting company from The Yellow Earl. Reunited, the Irish pair hit two further fences to add 49 penalties to their overnight score for a three day total of 291.2.
David Foster redeemed the situation somewhat with a masterly piece of riding for just one knocked rail with Duneight Carnival for a finishing tally of 93.2 that would have left Foster 12th had the individual rankings still counted. The Meath rider at least gets another crack at the medals, however, and runs his individual hope, Tilt `n' Turn, across country today.
