Equestrianism: Dutch suffer as key rider is disqualified

The Dutch dressage team, who were hoping to worry the all-powerful Germans in the World Equestrian Games here, suffered a setback when one of their horses, Silvano, failed yesterday's horse inspection. His rider, Ellen Bontje, a long-standing member of the Netherlands team, is therefore out of the competition before it has even begun.

Bontje's place will be taken by the Dutch reserve, Tineke Bartels on Broere Jaz, when the competition gets under way this morning in the Chapin Stadium with two days of Grand Prix dressage. The vaulters will also be in action today in the Sports Pavilion.

The declared aim of Britain's dressage riders is to finish in the top seven when the team placings are decided after Friday's Grand Prix Special, thus securing qualification for the Olympic Games in Athens in two years' time.

The team consists of the same four riders – Richard Davison, Emile Faurie, Laura Richardson and Peter Storr – who finished sixth in last year's European Championships. The only changes concern two horses, with Davison on Ballaseyr Royale instead of Hiscox Askari and Faurie switching to Insterburg from Rascher Hopes. All four have achieved personal best scores this year, so they must have a chance of edging up in the placings.

Three-day event dressage, to be staged in the smaller Annexe Stadium tomorrow and on Friday, may seem tame compared with Saturday's cross-country, but it is not without its tensions. Medals can be won or lost through the marks awarded in this initial phase.