Equestrianism: Davenport declines invite from Britain

Richard Davenport has declined an invitation to ride for the Great Britain team at the Gijon Nations Cup, which begins in Spain on 28 August, even though it might have led to a place at the World Equestrian Games, which begin 12 days later.

The offer came after William Funnell had to withdraw Amber du Montois, who knocked a tendon in Dublin and has almost been ruled out of the World Games as a result.

"I'm extremely disappointed with Richard's attitude," the Great Britain chef d'equipe, Derek Ricketts, said yesterday while watching the Great Leighs International Grand Prix on the closing day of The Horse Show.

Britain will probably have only four riders, instead of the planned five, in Gijon, and Di Lampard's plans for Abbervail Dream now have to change because she will be required to jump him in the Nations Cup, which she had not intended.

Prior commitments were given as the reason for Davenport refusing the Gijon place.

The Irishman, Billy Twomey used all his considerable skill to jump two clear rounds on Anastasia III and win the Great Leighs Grand Prix, so stopping Robert Smith from adding to his earlier victory in the Brake Bros Small Grand Prix.

Smith, first to go in the earlier class, produced a challenge on Mr Springfield that left others chasing in vain and he looked to have another success sewn up on Kalusha. But Twomey went 2.22sec faster to win the £6,000 prize, his biggest success with the eight-year-old mare.

THE HORSE SHOW (Great Leighs, Essex): Great Leighs International Grand Prix: 1 Anastasia III (B Twomey, Irl) clear, 51.91sec; 2 Kalusha (R Smith, GB) clear, 53.72; 3 Caresino (H Luther, Ger) clear, 54.39. Brake Bros Small Grand Prix: 1 Mr Springfield (R Smith, GB) clear, 39.04sec; 2 Audi's Principal (E-B Paarden, Swe) clear, 46.27; 3 Abalone Craker (M Kyle, Irl) clear, 46.88. Ben Shaw's Anglia Speed Grand Prix: 1 Coriama (P Charles, Irl) 63.12; 2 Brookend Fuehrer (J Renwick, GB) 63.12; 3 Tom Boy (K Brown, GB) 63.21. Fordyce Curry Young Horse Jump-Off: 1 Casino (K Brown, GB) clear, 42.69sec; 2 Platinum (K Brown, GB) clear, 43.55; 3 Claydons Ice (C Hanley, Irl) clear, 45.26. Thomson Local Classic: 1 Cortaflex Machiavelli (W Funnell, GB) clear, 43.75sec; 2 Audis Principal (H Ankarcrona, Swe) clear, 47.10; 3 Indecis de 6 Censes (D Meech, NZ) clear, 47.29.