Equestrianism: Great Britain expect Smith to restore pride

Robert Smith is looking to put back some pride in British showjumping – and help the beleaguered officials of the sport as they prepare for a crucial meeting with the British Olympic Association – when he rides Marius Claudius, Mr Springfield and Lucky Sky in the Italian World Cup Show that begins here today.

The BOA meeting next Thursday will decide whether British showjumping will continue to receive lottery funding and whether British riders will be allowed to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games if they succeed in qualifying at next year's European Championships.

A written submission has already been presented, justifiably claiming that some potentially brilliant horses are now in British hands. A good performance from Smith in Sunday's World Cup qualifier (in which he expects to ride the eight-year-old Athens Grand Prix winner, Marius Claudius) would do much to strengthen that argument.

Under World Cup rules, the top 10 riders in the world rankings are entitled to compete in the qualifiers of their choice. Britain (whose best rider, Michael Whitaker, is now lying 12th) is allowed to nominate just one rider – and this is only because they host a World Cup qualifier at Olympia.

The Germans, who have five riders in the top 10 and three qualifiers, have been able to send eight riders here.

Smith, the sole British representative, agrees that the rules are stacked in Germany's favour, but he is not too concerned about qualifying for next year's final in Las Vegas. "If the horses keep going as well as they have recently, I wouldn't mind jumping there, but I'm not over-fussed," Smith said. He is more interested in a place in the 2003 European Championships for which both Marius Claudius, who will be coming towards his prime at the age of nine, and the year older Mr Springfield could be strong contenders.

The Italian World Cup Show is part of the 104th Fieracavalli, which occupies all 12 halls of the huge Verona complex and is one of the biggest horse fairs in Europe. Other competitors include a horse-shoeing team from England.