Good afternoon and welcome along to day three of the 2016 Olympic Games.
It’s a busy day for the Irish with plenty of action to look forward to across equestrian, rowing, boxing and sailing. Here’s the line-up:
Equestrian:
Three-day eventing (Cross Country)
- Padraig McCarthy 2.09pm
- Clare Abbott 3.21pm
- Jonty Evans 4.47pm
- Mark Kyle 6.03pm
Ireland are currently fifth in the team event after the dressage.
Rowing:
- Sinead Jennings and Claire Lambe (Lightweight double sculls) 3.30pm
- Gary O’Donovan and Paul O’Donovan (Lightweight double sculls) 3.50pm
Boxing:
- Paddy Barnes v Samuel Carmona Heredia (light flyweight) 3.45pm
Sailing:
- Annalise Murphy (Laser radial class) 5.05pm
- Finn Lynch (Laser class) 5.15pm
The first member of Team Ireland in action today is Padraig McCarthy as he goes in the Cross County equestrian. The 39-year-old is in 26th position after the dressage yesterday.
That’s so disappointing. Ireland’s hopes in the team event have been dealt a huge blow as McCarthy and Simon Porloe fall in the Cross County equestrian. Both the horse and rider appear to be ok, thankfully.
The moment Padraig McCarthy won’t want to see again.
Pádraig Harrington will begin his Olympic campaign alongside Italy’s Matteo Manassero and Danny Lee of New Zealand on Thursday morning.
The 44-year-old, who arrived in the Athletes’ Village this morning, will be in the second group out at 11.41am Irish time (7.41 local) as the sport returns to the Games for the first time in 112 years.
The draw was released this afternoon.
Clare Abbott is next up on Euro Prince, and there is a lot of pressure on her after Padraig McCarthy was eliminated following a fall.
Abbott is 29th in the standings after yesterday’s dressage but Ireland, starting the day fifth in the team event, still harbour hopes of a medal.
The Cross Country course is, however, causing plenty of problems.
Following the cancellation of yesterday’s rowing action at the Lagoa, Ireland’s pairing of Sinead Jennings and Claire Lambe are ready to go in the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls.
They go in Lane 5 of the third heat, with the top two finishers advancing to the semi-finals.
A fine performance from Ireland’s pair as they finish second in Heat 3 to advance to the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls semi-finals, which take place on Wednesday.
Time for Paddy Barnes’ boxing to do the talking as takes to the ring at the Riocentro exhibition centre in the next few minutes.
The 2008 and 2012 bronze medallist opens his Olympic campaign against Spain’s Samuel Carmona Heredia.
What a moment for Cork brothers Gary and Paul O’Donovan. They’re preparing to go in Heat 1 of the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls.
Once again, it’s the top two through to the semi-finals. They’re up against Germany, Turkey, Denmark and Italy.
What a performance from the Cork brothers! They were forced to dig deep but in the end the O’Donovan’s advance through as heat winners.
Paddy Barnes LOSES! The Belfast boxer defeated on a split decision to Samuel Heredia Carmona. That’s a huge shock.
One of Ireland’s leading medal hopes goes crashing out at the first hurdle. That one could have gone either way but unfortunately it didn’t go Barnes’ as the Canadian and Uzkeistani scored it in his opponent’s favour.
In the RTÉ studio, Michael Carruth says Barnes looked tired after just three minutes.
Full report here.
The three-day Eventing continues to canter along and Evans, ninth after yesterday’s dressage, will take on the course at 16.47.
The Dubliner, fourth at London 2012, will hope to see the benefit of a lot of recon work done in Rio this year. Her Laser Radial class sailing gets under way at 17.05.
The 20-year-old will set off on the Rio waters for his race at 17.15.
Just what Ireland needed, Evans notches a clear cross country round in 22.80 with Cooley Rorke’s Drift to sustain his challenge.
Ireland’s final rider in the cross country today will set off at 18.03. Kyle was 45th after yesterday’s dressage.
Annalise Murphy is seventh at the first marker in her delayed Laser Radial race.
In the men’s Laser race, Finn Lynch reached the marker in 13th.
Murphy has gone from strength to strength on a course where wind has caused others many problems. She LEADS China’s Lijia Xu by 13 seconds.
The Dubliner grabbed the lead and held it in impressive fashion. Plenty more races to go.
This is like London 2012 all over again for the Irish sailor. Long way to go still.
The Irish athlete has fallen back big time as they head for the fourth mark.
After the Brazilian competitor incurred a penalty, Murphy’s clawed back a couple of spots.
Finn Lynch followed up his 15th-placed finish in race 1 of Men’s Laser Class with a 28th-place in race 2. The Carlow man is now 21st out of 46 overall.
Not a bad day’s work for the Irish sailor then. She’ll be happy with that.