Show jumper Peter Charles said yesterday that he is "seriously considering" pulling out of the Olympics. Charles, part of the Irish team that triumphed in the Modena Nations Cup yesterday, believes that the financial repercussions of missing two and a half months of jumping with his top horse are too high a price to pay.

"I'm seriously thinking is it worth it", he said. "My mare could be really good in a team, but a top 10 finish in the individual is the best I could hope for and, if I do go, she'd be missing from the end of July and wouldn't be jumping in Sydney until September 23rd."

Jessica Kurten, who was named 10 days ago as Ireland's reserve for the Olympics, was told this week that she can now travel to Sydney - following the withdrawal of the Bulgarian team.

"If we were sending a team I would have gone like a shot", she said yesterday. "But Atlanta cost me the guts of £20,000 to keep my business running while I was away. The thought of going to Sydney is wonderful, but it's not a decision I could make over one weekend. I'll have to discuss it with the owner first."