Denis Lynch (born 3 May 1976) is an Irish show jumper.
He represented Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Early on 21 August it emerged that he had withdrawn from the equestrian individual final which was due to have been held later that day. It was later confirmed that Lynch was banned from entering the show jumping final due to his horse, Lantinus, being found to have been in contact with illegal substances. Latinus was found to have capsaicin in his system due to the use of a cream similar to Deep-heat called Equiblock. Lynch had been using the banned substance for some time but maintained that he did not know it was illegal. He described himself as "shattered" due to missing out on his chance for an Olympic medal. Lantinus was one of four horses banned on doping offences; the others were from Brazil, Germany and Norway. Lantinus and Lynch had been described prior to the scandal as "Ireland's best chance of an Olympic medal in Beijing".
Rolex World ranking
Lynch took over the position of highest ranked Irish rider in the October 2009 (ranking no. 106) World Rankings where he held 17th position. The following month, Jessica Kurten regained this title. He again took this title in January 2010 (No. 109) when he was again ranked 17th in the World, but this also only lasted a month. In the August 2010 (no. 116) World Rankings, Lynch reached 6th position and re-became the highest ranked Irish rider. He held this title for 4 months until it was taken over by Billy Twomey in December 2010 (No. 120). In April 2011, Lynch reached his highest ever World Ranking of 4th.
As of the end of March 2012, he is ranked 16th in the Rolex World Rankings – Ireland's no. 1.
Horses
Lancelot 200 Gelding / Dark Bay / 1997 / Lancer III x Argentinus
He and Lynch jumped many double clears in Nations Cups and Grand Prix but was slow against the clock. They were also a member of the winning Irish team at the 'Samsung Super League' of Falsterbo, Sweden, 2006.
Lantinus Gelding / Bay / 1998 / Lankoenig x Argentinus – owned by Thomas Straumann
Winner of 5 International Grand Prix, including four 5* – Doha, La Baule, Rome (2008), Aachen (2009). The pair have also been a member of two winning Irish Nations Cup teams – Falsterbo (2009), Aachen (2010). Lantinus also topped the WBFSH World Breeding Rankings of 2008.
Nabab's Son Gelding / Bay / 1998 / Nabab de Reve x Kebah – owned by Thomas Straumann
A member of many 5* Nations Cup teams – in 2010, the pair recorded at least one clear round in each of the 3 teams they were selected including jumping double clear at Falsterbo, Sweden. He has also been placed in many International classes across the world, including finishing 3rd in the 5* Grand Prix of London Olympia, 2008.
Abbervail van het Dingeshof Gelding / Bay / 2000 / Nonstop x Jus de Pomme – owned by Thomas Straumann
Has been placed in many International Grand Prix, including winning the 5* Rolex FEI World Cup in s'Hertogenbosch 2011, and the 4* Grand Prix in Weisbaden in 2010. The pair also jumped a double clear in the Nations Cup of Lummen, Belgium, 2010 to help Ireland to victory.
All Inclusive NRW Gelding / Bay / 1999 / Arpeggio x Phantom – owned by Thomas Straumann
Placed in many international Grand Prix, including being placed 2nd in two 5* at Paris, France (2009) and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2010), and winning the 3* at Leipzig in 2011.
2008 scandal
Build-up
Denis Lynch had qualified for the final on Thursday 21 August by posting his worst result of the equestrian event the previous Monday. He recorded six penalty points in his third outing of the competition. Four of the points had been for jumping errors, whilst two came about due to him exceeding the 88 second time limit. Lynch had had only two points going into the Monday's event.
Aftermath
In the hours that followed the revelations, Horse Sport Ireland made a statement on Lynch's Olympic shame, saying it was "informed by the world equestrian governing body, the FEI, at 2.15pm Hong Kong time on Thursday (21 August), that Irish Olympic rider Denis Lynch's horse, Lantinus had tested positive for a banned substance and that as a result he would be suspended from taking part in tonight's show jumping final." A urine sample from the horse's bladder was subjected to a voluntary screening testing process made available by the FEI on the horse's arrival in Hong Kong, the results of which proved negative.