Team Ireland showjumpers Shane Sweetnam and Daniel Coyle both produced superb clear rounds to qualify for the individual final at the Olympic Games.

The Ireland duo occupied second and third positions after being among 20 riders to post clear rounds as the top 30 progressed.

Riding James Kann Cruz, Cork man Sweetnam went clear in 73.35 seconds.

County Londonderry man Coyle, riding Legacy, was the 37th of the 74 hopefuls in action as he then produced his third straight clear round of the Games when clocking a time of 73.64.

Ardmore man Coyle had a double clear in last week’s team competition in Versailles.

Home rider Julien Epaillard later produced a marginally faster clear round on Dubai Du Cedre to move to the top of the standings but the Irish duo’s place in Tuesday’s final had already been guaranteed.

Their Ireland team-mate Cian O’Connor, who won the individual bronze medal at London 2012 after being stripped of the Athens 2004 gold when his horse was found to have a banned substance in its system, missed out on qualification after his four faults in 75.17 seconds did not prove fast enough to progress as he finished up in 33rd spot.

O’Connor was among the later starters and his round had to be delayed after his course Majestic lost a shoe during his warm-up.

Great Britain riders Harry Charles and Scott Brash both produced clears to progress with their team-mate, defending champion Ben Maher among nine riders on four faults who also squeezed into the final.