Equestrianism: Cutteridge is new face in British team for Athens

There was never any doubt that William Fox-Pitt, the victor at Badminton this month, and Pippa Funnell, winner of the three major contests that made up the Grand Slam of eventing last year, would be on the Olympic Three-Day Event team when the five riders for Athens were announced yesterday. They will be joined by two other regular team members, Leslie Law and Jeanette Brakewell, with Sarah Cutteridge getting her first call-up.

There was never any doubt that William Fox-Pitt, the victor at Badminton this month, and Pippa Funnell, winner of the three major contests that made up the Grand Slam of eventing last year, would be on the Olympic Three-Day Event team when the five riders for Athens were announced yesterday. They will be joined by two other regular team members, Leslie Law and Jeanette Brakewell, with Sarah Cutteridge getting her first call-up.

The choice must have involved some heart-searching for Lucinda Green and her fellow members of the selection committee.

The 30-year-old Cutteridge has excellent credentials, having been fifth at Burghley last year and eighth at Badminton on The Wexford Lady, but the selectors must nevertheless have felt mean in leaving Marie-Louise Thomas as one of three reserves.

Her 10th at Burghley and third at Badminton with The Psephologist would have been good enough to ensure her a place on the team in anything less than a vintage year.

GREAT BRITAIN TEAM FOR OLYMPIC THREE-DAY EVENT (Athens, 13-18 August): J Brakewell (Over to You), S Cutteridge (The Wexford Lady), W Fox-Pitt (Tamarillo), P Funnell (Primmore's Pride), L Law (Shear l'Eau). Reserves (alphabetical order): M King (King Solomon III), P Stockton (Tangleman), M-L Thomas (The Psephologist).