Ricketts' critical role

The former international rider, Derek Ricketts, has been selected for the lottery-funded position of World Class Performance Manager for show jumping.

The long-awaited appointment comes at a critical time for the sport, with poor results this year underlining the need for new talent.

Ricketts, now aged 52, was a member of the only British team to have won the world show jumping title – in 1978 together with David Broome, Malcolm Pyrah and the late Caroline Bradley. The quartet went on to win the European Championship a year later.

When Britain's current top international riders met at Hickstead in July, they named Ricketts as their preferred choice for team manager. They also voiced their resolve to increase the involvement of riders in the running of the sport and will no doubt expect some help from Ricketts in attaining that end.