The Irish eventing team were in eighth place in Rio after a tough cross-country phase where only three of the 65 starters finished within the time allowed of 10 minutes 15 seconds.

However, overall three Irish-bred horses finished within the top 10 after Pierre Michelet's challenging 33-fence course.

Ireland's Jonty Evans was in contention to reach the eventing individual final on Wednesday with the Irish Sport Horse Cooley Rorkes Drift (photo below). He had a clear jumping round adding just 22.80 time penalties to an excellent dressage score of 41.80 and was in 16th place on 64.60.

However, there was disappointment for Tipperary's Padraig McCarthy with the Polish-bred Simon Porloe (by Sofix) who was eliminated after a fall, one of 19 combinations to either retire or be eliminated.

Clare Abbott and the Irish Sport Horse Euro Prince completed the course with two jumping errors and 25.6 time penalties for 38th spot.

Mark Kyle, who finished in 35th position, delivered a solid round on the 10-year-old mare Jemilla (by Mill Law), finishing with a single jumping error and 30.80 time penalties to leave Ireland on a team total of 278.40, eighth overall on the leader board.

As we went to press, Australia lead on 150.30 ahead of New Zealand in second on 154.80, while France were in bronze medal position on 161.00.

Australia's Chris Burton was in gold medal position ahead of Germany's Michael Jung in second with France's Astier Nicolas in third. Irish eventing team manager, Nick Turner, said: "We are of course disappointed not to improve on our position after dressage."