Equestrianism: Clarke's chance to impress: Youngster aiming for a Nations' Cup place

WARREN CLARKE has the chance to prove his temperament and talent when he competes as a member of the British squad in the four-day Nations' Cup meeting, which begins this morning at Hickstead.

Clarke, 23, joins four regular team members - John and Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton and David Broome. The young Lancastrian's two grey partners, Benjumin and Aretha, may not be in the same league as that other grey, the outstanding Everest Milton, who will be ridden at Hickstead by John Whitaker, but Clarke's horses have plenty of ability, especially the German-bred Benjumin who was bought from Paul Schockemohle five years ago.

The meeting has rearranged its schedule since last year, with the Nations' Cup on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Ronnie Massarella, Britain's team manager, will therefore have only two days' form to consider before naming his quartet for the Nations' Cup.

Clarke would love to be chosen. 'Ben's got enough engine,' Clarke said of the horse he rode to two good rounds (with just one mistake each time) in the Rome Nations' Cup on 1 May. But he knows that Massarella may choose to rely on the old hands: John Whitaker on Milton, his brother, Michael, on Monsanta or Midnight Madness, Skelton on Everest Limited Edition and Broome on Countryman or Lannegan.

Five overseas countries will be fielding full teams: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. The German contingent includes their Olympic champion, Ludger Beerbaum, and his younger brother, Markus. It also includes Ludger's winning mount in Barcelona, the mare Almox Classic Touch.

Jos Lansink, a member of the winning Dutch team at the Olympics, has returned to Hickstead hoping to repeat last year's victory in the Grand Prix. He was lucky on that occasion since John Whitaker and Milton were ahead on the clock when the British horse nudged a rail off the second last fence.