Equestrianism: Show trials go ahead

The new International Championship Team Trials for show jumping will go ahead, with another venue to replace the cancelled meeting at Hickstead and rules which allow points to be earned in three Nations Cups.

The East of England Show will now host one of the four trials at Peterborough (15-17 July) where it will be incorporated in the Daewoo qualifier. The other venues remain: Royal Windsor Horse Show (14-18 May), Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead (9-13 July) and New Forest and Hampshire County Show at Brockenhurst (29-31 July).

Points in Nations Cups, based on the total faults for each horse and rider combination in the two rounds, can be gained at the three meetings which clash with team trials. These include Windsor, which runs a trial (15 May) and the Nations Cup (18 May).

Those who have complained about British show jumping being a closed shop now have the chance to win a place in the squad for the European Show Jumping Championships from 27 to 31 August at Mannheim, Germany. The top three horse and rider combinations on the points list will be automatically selected.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show, which re-introduces international show jumping after 24 years, has not attracted the quality of overseas entries expected. A strong Irish team (which includes Peter Charles, the European champion, and Eddie Macken) could be a serious threat to the home riders. But Germany and The Netherlands, the only other countries to send full teams, will be nowhere near top strength.