Equestrianism: Bates is beaten by Bunn

THE executive committee of the British Show Jumping Association has elected Douglas Bunn, arguably its most controversial member, as the new chairman. He defeated Michael Bates, the out-going chairman, in a vote taken on Tuesday.

Considering that Bunn was accused of breaching the BSJA executive's confidentiality last year through his press statement that followed the death of a horse at Wembley's Horse of the Year Show, the result must have been received with considerable surprise. Bunn's statement had accused the show's organisers of ignoring advice from three leading course designers when they erected the Derby Bank which caused the fatal accident to Sir Arkay.

The result of the election among the 20 members of the executive committee suggests there was some persuasive lobbying from Bunn, who owns the All England Show Jumping Course at Hickstead. Last October, in another vote between the two candidates, Bates defeated Bunn to become president of the British Equestrian Federation.

Other elections on Tuesday gave David Broome a new role as the BSJA's international affairs committee and Michael Bullman chairmanship of the selectors.

Bullman owned most of the horses that Joe Turi rode for the British team. Turi returned to his native Hungary a few days ago with the intention of settling there and, though he may come back for the occasional competition, he will no longer be a regular contestant on the international circuit.