Kürten cries off team

EQUESTRIAN:  Jessica Kürten has pulled out of Ireland's team for the World Equestrian Games in Germany next month.

The world number two headed up a squad of 10 riders named last week by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland, with the final quintet to be announced on August 22nd, but Kürten told The Irish Times yesterday she would definitely not be making the trip to Aachen.

Kürten, who rose to number two in the world rankings in February, refused to ride on the Irish team for much of last year but had stated she would jump this season. But, after being left off the team at the Lucerne Nations Cup in Switzerland by team manager Robert Splaine last month and being told her top horse, Quibell, would have to prove herself before being named for the Dublin Horse Show team, Kürten pulled out of the world games.

"I'm not driving the whole way to Dublin to get snubbed," Kürten said from her base in Germany last night. "The mare is ranked number three in the world. She shouldn't have to prove herself."

Kürten insisted last night she would not be persuaded to change her mind and has already made other plans for her horses, including a trip to the big Canadian fixture at Spruce Meadows in Calgary the week after Aachen.

Kürten lamented what she viewed as a lack of team spirit among the nine other riders named last week in the squad.

"Not one of the other riders has rung and said we need you, not one of them has backed me up. I'm really disappointed, totally and utterly disappointed.

"But if I'm not good enough for Lucerne and not good enough for Dublin, how can I be good enough for the world championships? I've made my plans and I'm going to stick to them. I'm just trying to put this whole thing behind me."

Splaine was not available for comment last night.

Marie Burke has been named to replace Kürten in the squad for Aachen.